New Melbourne Victory signing Kosta Barbarouses has revealed that his move back to the A-League came after he had weighed up his options in the off-season.
“I had a decent year in Greece, and then it was go back to my Russian club or look at some other options,” Barbarouses said.
“Then when Melbourne [Victory] came along it was the best option for me to come back and just play and [get back onto] my feet again.
“I know Ange [Postecoglou] and I know what he can get out of me so that was something I was really looking forward to doing.”
Since leaving Brisbane Roar, Barbarouses has found game time hard to come by overseas.
He made just 13 appearances for FC Alania Vladikavkaz and a loan spell to Panathinaikos last season also failed to yield the desired minutes.
“With hopefully the World Cup coming up next year it was a big factor to come and get some game time, and to get back to my best again,” he said.
“It was really tough for the first few months. I picked up a little bit of the language, after that a few boys learnt to speak English but it was definitely a learning curve and a new experience for me .
“I wasn’t expecting such a big change. I don’t think that was a major factor that it didn’t work out but it definitely played a part,” he said.
His difficult experiences abroad looks to have helped him mature as a player, and coach Ange Postecoglou had no hesitation to sign him up for the Victory when the opportunity arose.
“He’s still small! He hasn’t grown at all but he’s obviously going to be a little bit more mature and he’s probably had some life experiences that around him have offered more than his playing ability,” Postecoglou said.
“With recruiting, part of the process is how well you know the player and I know Kosta really well and obviously having worked with him in Brisbane.
“To be honest I lost track of him last couple of years but whilst I was in Europe at the end of last season I actually went to watch a game to watch somebody else and he was playing for Panathinaikos, and thought he was best on ground.
“He certainly wasn’t in our sights then and so when it came across the radar about a week ago I was really happy to snap him up, because I’d seen him play recently more than anything else,” he said.
Another drawcard from Melbourne was the atmosphere and the amount of fans that turn up each week to support the club.
“They have got great fans here and I’m really looking forward to seeing them week in week out,” Barbarouses said.
“That was a big factor and they had the biggest average attendance last year and probably most years so it’s something I’m really looking forward to.
“Everytime I’ve played here I’ve enjoyed it, everytime I’ve played Victory, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
Signing a New Zealand international winger from the Wellington Phoenix youth ranks inevitably brings comparisons to the recently departed Marco Rojas, and Postecoglou was quizzed on the similarities between the two players.
“[They are] no doubt different sort of players,” he said.
“Both [are] very threatening in the front third which is great for us because obviously losing Marco last year he was a real threat in the final third and Kosta is the same.
“Different type of threat but he certainly can score goals.”