Billy Celeski has ended speculation that he will leave Melbourne for another Hyundai A-League team after putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the club on Tuesday.
Billy Celeski has ended speculation that he will leave Melbourne for another Hyundai A-League team after putting pen to paper on a new two-year deal with the club on Tuesday.
It has been a rocky ride for the midfielder, after being overlooked by the Victory in season one, he played in Perth for one season before being cut due to injury. He returned for a stint in the Victorian Premier League, before going back to Perth for the 2007/08 season.
Melbourne then signed him on a one-year deal and after impressing in the opening 15 matches this season, the club quickly moved to re-sign him.
The deal ties the talented 23-year-old to the Victory until the end of the 2010/11 season as he resisted offers from other teams to remain in his home town.
“It’s fantastic to be at this club and I’m really glad we came to an agreement for two more years,” Celeski said on Tuesday after training.
“I’m just really happy to be here, obviously I would have liked to have signed here in year one, but I’ve put pen to paper this year and extended for two more years, I think that’s the most important thing and that’s what I’m happy with.”
“Obviously with two new teams coming into the competition, there was always options there but Melbourne’s my home and we’re playing some good football this season and looking for finals as well, so I’m happy to be here.”
Melbourne Victory operations manager Gary Cole was delighted with the news, but said the club wouldn’t stand in his way should he look to pursue a career overseas.
“It is fantastic news for the club … in my opinion he was one of Australia’s most consistent players at the Beijing Olympic Games and he performed really well for us through the ACL and he’s done a great job, I think he has been involved in all 15 games for the club this season,” he said
“Billy’s a fantastic young talent for Australian football and our club at least would expect that all of these guys would like to think there would be an opportunity come up for them in Europe and if that happens to Billy then he’ll go with our blessing.”
Celeski admitted he still had ambitions of playing overseas, but for the moment he is solely focused on playing for the Victory.
“I’ve still got ambitions to play overseas, the main focus is the new contract that I’ve signed and this week against Sydney, I’m not looking that far ahead to be honest,” he said.
