Import named Victory captain
MELBOURNE Victory coach Marco Kurz says Swedish striker Ola Toivonen was the logical choice to captain the ALeague club this season.
Toivonen becomes the first import to be appointed Victory captain, with Kurz selecting the skipper to head up a fiveman leadership group. “That was my choice,” he said.
“The leadership group was voted by the players, the boys. Four experienced players, one young boy — the young boy is Thomas (Deng).
“And I picked out of the group the captain.”
Toivonen scored 17 goals in 26 appearances across all competitions for Melbourne Victory last season, including 15 A-League goals.
“Ola’s now in his second year in Australia. He was last year a very important player. He’s a very important part of Victory and I think it makes sense,” Kurz said.
“He’s always a starter and also to push the boys in a good shape as well.
“I think it makes sense and also the voting from the boys showed me that Ola is the right decision.”
Toivonen takes over from Carl Valeri, becoming the fifth captain since the A-League club’s inception in 2005.
“(It’s) a big honour to be selected from the coach. But also a big thanks to the team as well,” Toivonen said yesterday.
“It’s nice. I have a big help from Carl (Valeri) and from Leigh (Broxham) as well, who know the club in and out.
Broxham, Deng, Tim Hoogland and Jakob Poulsen will join Toivonen in the leadership group.
Deng was included as the player representing Victory’s younger squad members.
The 22-year-old has established himself as a standout young defender and earned his first Socceroos cap last year.