Melbourne Heart have unveiled Maltese international Michael Mifsud as their latest signing for the 2013-14 A-League season.
The 32-year-old striker and captain of Malta has netted on 37 occasions and has accrued 99 caps for his country, whilst previously playing in Germany with Kaiserslautern and in England with Coventry.
Mifsud, who last played two seasons with Maltese side Velletta, signs on for Heart as a free agent on a one-year-deal.
“I had the opportunity to come over here. I wanted another adventure and I think it’s a nice adventure for me playing in Australia” Mifsud said.
The forward opted for Heart, rejecting additional offers from Europe explaining ‘it was a good opportunity for me and my family to come here and a good experience. I enjoy Australia and they play good football’.
Mifsud consulted with fellow Maltese Internationals Manny Muscat (Wellington Phoenix) and John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners) about the A-League prior to arriving in Australia.
“It’s a good level league and its always improving year by year. I took that into consideration and I wanted to help the team and show people what I’m capable of,” he said.
“I’m here to work and I’m not here to just relax. I know Australian football is doing well and it’s at a good level.”
Heart head coach John Aloisi was full of praise for the forward and the qualities he brings to the table.
“I saw the runs that he makes as a striker are the ones that I was looking for. He’s quick, he’s direct and makes good forward runs into the box,” Aloisi said.
“You can see he’s a goal scorer. He only needs half a chance and he puts it away and that just goes to show how many goals he’s scored with the international team and also he has played at a good club in England.”
Despite a short and slim build Aloisi believes Mifsud will have no trouble adapting to the physicality of the A-League.
“He’s quite strong himself even though he is small. I got no problem with him coming up against the likes of Nikolai Topor-Stanley or Michael Beauchamp and I think he’ll do well in the A-League,” he said.
However, Heart will be missing the services of their new striker for the first game of the season against rivals Melbourne Victory, as Mifsud will be away on international duty where he is to earn his 100th cap with Malta.
“I have to go back home. It’s unfortunate for me that I’m going to miss the first game, but of course it’s always an honour for me to play for the national team, especially earning my 100th cap,” Mifsud said.
The Maltese captain is set generate an increase in popularity for Heart, particularly from the Maltese community with CEO Scott Munn telling SBS’s The World Game that “his presence would boost our home gates for sure because there are many Maltese living in Melbourne… He is a hero amongst the Maltese.”
Mifsud is Heart’s 23rd member of the squad ahead of the 2013-14 campaign and is set to bolster the club’s international ranks, joining fellow Australian internationals Harry Kewell, Patrick Kisnorbo and injured Dutch midfielder Orlando Engelaar.
Aside from captaining his country, Mifsud is best known for netting a brace against Manchester United in a 3rd round League Cup tie in 2007 for Coventry.