Socceroo Ikonomidis boosts Popovic’s Glory rebuild

Tony Popovic’s rebuilding project at Perth Glory continues to gather momentum after the club signed Chris Ikonomidis.

Socceroo Chris Ikonomidis has joined Perth Glory’s rebuild

Tony Popovic’s rebuilding project at Perth Glory continues to gather momentum after the club signed Chris Ikonomidis as the classy Socceroos attacker looks to rejuvenate his career in the A-League.

Already one of the biggest movers in the off-season transfer market, Popovic has certainly made clear his intentions to get the West Australians back to the lofty heights they once enjoyed during their halcyon days in the National Soccer League by luring the 23-year-old back from Italy.

Ikonomidis’ decision to sign a three-year deal came just hours after Melbourne City announced that Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Birighitti was also returning to the A-League.

Ikonomidis, 23, has spent most of the past six years in Europe, playing in the junior set-up as a 16-year-old with Italian side Atalanta before joining Serie A club Lazio in 2013.

While he did not get to play in the Serie A, he debuted for Lazio in a Europa League game against French side St Etienne in December, 2015.

Ikonomidis, capped six times for the Socceroos after Ange Postecoglou gave him his national team debut in 2015, spent a season in the Serie B on loan with Salernitana (14 games) in 2016 before going on loan again, this time to Danish club AGF for the 2016-17 season (18 games for one goal). His chances were limited on his return to Lazio at the beginning of last season, forcing him to sign with A-League club Western Sydney in the January transfer window for a 10-game loan stint.

Ikonomidis was outstanding for the Wanderers, scoring three goals and producing some outstanding form as a wide attacker. He returned to Lazio at the end of last season.

Ikonomidis said the lure of being part of “some exciting times” at Glory was a huge factor in his decision.

“The appeal of coming here was the project that is happening,” Ikonomidis said. “I definitely think that Glory will be competing for the title and that was one of the most tempting aspects for me.

“I spoke with (defender) Matthew Spiranovic over the phone a few weeks ago and he really convinced me what a great place this is. I enjoyed the couple of months in the A-League last season and now I am excited to get started with Perth Glory.”

Popovic, who took over from previous coach Kenny Lowe in May, has quickly set about putting his stamp on the club.

His signings include Socceroos Spiranovic and Jason Davidson as well as defender Tomi Mrcela and Spanish midfielder Juande.

Glory have yet to win an A-League title since the league kicked off in 2005.

However, they had been a dominant force in the NSL, making four grands finals and winning the championship twice before the league was disbanded in favour of the A-League.

Meanwhile, Birighitti’s signing at City has strengthened their goalkeeping stocks considerably.

The former Newcastle Jets shot stopper has returned to Australia after spending a little over 3½ years in Europe where he struggled for serious game time during stints in Italy, England and the Netherlands.

Birighitti, 27, has signed a three-year deal though the fact he has joined City, who are owned by the powerful City Football Group, indicates he has not given up on continuing to pursue a career overseas at some stage.

CGF also own Manchester City and a host of clubs in Europe, the US and Asia.