Cacares song now for Celeski

MELBOURNE Victory have lost the battle to keep Adrian Caceres with the dazzling attacker agreeing a deal with Central Coast Mariners.

Melbourne Victory will part ways with Caceres and move to the Central Coast after the Asian Champions League 2008.

"Following on from the re-signing of five integral members of our current line-up – Nigel Boogaard, John Hutchinson, Mile Jedinak, Brad Porter and Matt Simon, we’re delighted to have secured the services of one of the A-League’s most effective players in the final third in Adrian Caceres," said Mariners Deputy Chairman Peter Turnbull.

"We see Adrian as a player that will complement our already very strong attacking stocks and importantly, one whose experience in the Hyundai A-League is as good as any player to have played in the league over its three seasons.

"As we build on our Premiership success from this season, the experience and winning mentality that a player like Adrian brings to our club augurs exceptionally well for our future seasons.

"On behalf of the board of the Mariners, our coaching staff and each of our members and supporters, I welcome Adrian to our club and hope to see him scoring the type of goals that he has become renowned for in yellow and navy before too long."

Turnbull added: "We said before the current season that our line-up was the strongest that we had ever put together and I’m very confident that we’re on track to improve again for season four and Adrian’s signing is a clear demonstration of this.

"For a player of Adrian’s calibre to identify with the future ambition of our club is testament to the direction that we are heading in – a direction that I am certain will see our club become the best football club in Australia."

Caceres, 26, spent two seasons with Victory after arriving from Perth Glory in 2006 and will feature in the Group Stage of Asia’s most prestigious tournament before moving to the Mariners ahead of the 2008/09 season.

Victory Football Operations Manager Gary Cole said: “The contract renewal process initially started around three months ago and has been more hands on over the last five weeks.

“We tried very hard to keep Adrian and we’ve given it our best shot, but it’s not to be, so we wish him well.

“Adrian’s registered, along with all other Melbourne Victory players, for the AFC Champions League and his contract expires on June 30, so we expect him to go through and honour that.

“He’s been a good player, the fans like him and he’s done a good job, but he obviously thinks moving to Central Coast is a better opportunity for him.

“That’s the nature of football, players come and players go and we’ll replace him and replace him well.”

Caceres was first introduced to the international football landscape as a 17-year-old with Western Australia Premier League side Perth SC, who had their prized talent bought by then English Premier League challengers Southampton in time for their 2000/01 campaign.

One season at the Dell alongside English football legend Matt Le Tissier did not unfortunately see Caceres contribute any match time to the Saints’ campaign and a move to the lower tiers of English football would soon follow.

The 2001/02 English season saw Caceres enjoy loan spells at Brentford in ��'Football League 1 and Hull City in the Football League 2, before Caceres returned to Australia to join his local club, the Perth Glory, for the 2002/03 National Soccer League (NSL) season.

Caceres’ made 18 appearances and netted four goals upon his return – helping inspire the Glory to their maiden NSL Championship, before playing a greater role in replicating the club’s success the following season to the tune of four goals from 25 appearances.

Following the demise of the NSL, Caceres again returned to England for one season, which began at Football League 2 club Yeovil where he netted a goal on debut away to Bury, and ended with short spells at Football League 2 rivals Wycombe and Conference League contenders Aldershot.

The inception of the A-League in 2005/06 saw Caceres re-join Perth Glory, where he played a key role throughout the Glory’s inaugural campaign.

Such form earned Caceres a move across the Nullarbor to Melbourne, where he has starred for the Victorian team over two consistent seasons.