Phoenix bolster ranks by signing Irish striker
The Wellington Phoenix have signed former Irish international Cillian Sheridan.
The 29-year-old striker completed his medical yesterday and will play for the remainder of the A-League season after leaving Polish side Jagiellonia Bialystok.
The 1.95m Sheridan has scored 98 career goals and Phoenix coach Mark Rudan believes his goal-scoring abilities are the perfect fit.
‘‘I’m constantly looking to challenge my players,’’ Rudan said. ‘‘Competition for places is crucial and at this time of the season, it’s important to strengthen the squad and add quality.’’
Sheridan has plenty of experience abroad and the offer to play in another foreign country proved too good to pass up.
‘‘To play in another country with different challenges is always appealing to me,’’ he said.
‘‘I have followed the Hyundai A-League and Wellington Phoenix are playing an attractive style and for a footballer you want to enjoy your football and what Mark Rudan is doing, really sold it to me.’’
Sheridan has won plenty of silverware, having started his career with Celtic before loan periods at other Scottish Premier League clubs and Plymouth Argyle, a then English Championship side.
After stints at Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia and Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock, Sheridan moved to the most decorated Cypriot side, APOEL FC in 2013. He helped the side achieve a historical domestic treble in winning all three Cypriot competition trophies. The following season he was again crucial to APOEL’s success, scoring to help the team gain entry into the Uefa Champions League group stage.
Sheridan, who earned three caps for Ireland in 2010, could be in line to face Adelaide United tomorrow.