Navy Blues homecoming for Adam Mitchell

Words: ACFC Media

Thursday 19 September 2019

Picture: Phototek

AUCKLAND, New Zealand - All Whites defender Adam Mitchell has signed for Auckland City FC, becoming Jose Figueira's third acquisition ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

Mitchell, 23, joins the Navy Blues after a short stint under Figueira at Team Wellington and having also played under his mentor at Central United in the Lotto NRFL Premier Division.

The towering defender picked up four international caps under former All Whites boss Fritz Schmid and can't wait to get reacquainted with the familiar environs of Kiwitea Street.

"It's great to be back at Kiwitea Street. I played at Central United for many years and Auckland City FC is a club close to my heart and I can't wait to hit the ground running.

"I've worked with Jose at Central and so this move is like coming home. Team Wellington was a very professional environment so when he made the move to Auckland City FC everything just joined together.

AUDIO - "Adam Mitchell is a player of huge potential" - Jose Figueira

"I respect Jose as a coach, I respect him as a man and he's a big part of what's happening at Auckland City FC and in my career," Mitchell said.

Figueira was equally pleased to secure yet another All Whites international and one he believes has a big future ahead of him.

"Adam is someone who has still got huge potential. He burst onto the scene at a young age and captained New Zealand at U-20 level and off the back of that got some outstanding opportunities and experiences.

"But like many footballers he's had knockbacks and challenges and tried to pursue opportunities that haven't come off.

"But since speaking with him he's ready to get back focusing on football and developing himself as a person.

"For me he's a young Kiwi player still capable of achieving big things in the game and I think this season and this club will be the right place to nurture and realise those desires," he said.

While the Figueira factor was a strong pull for Mitchell, Ivan Vicelich was also an attraction with the most-capped All White of all-time a key figure in his development as a player.

Vicelich, he says, is the player he looked up to most from a very early age.

"I learned a lot of things off Ivan when I first came to Central United and coming back here it's great he's the assistant coach.

"I played alongside Ivan and he taught me the tips and tricks of what it's like to play as a centreback and he's played at the highest level of the game.

"Everything Ivan achieved as a player is something I aspired to as a youngster so it's good to be back here and I'm looking forward to working with him," he said.

The route back to Kiwitea Street hasn't been plain sailing.

AUDIO - "This club has a special place in my heart" - Adam Mitchell

After a successful FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign that saw New Zealand reach the knock-out stages, Mitchell won a move to Red Star Belgrade.

Red Star won the UEFA European Cup in 1990 and produced some of Yugoslavia's most gifted footballers prior to the countries collapse into a bitter civil war.

Despite that backdrop, Red Star Belgrade was a move that proved difficult to resist but one that helped shape Mitchell as a person and player.

"I went to Red Star after the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2015 after a short spell at WaiBOP United and it was a big change of environment for me.

"People may think Serbia is not the most attractive destination but Red Star Belgrade is a massive club, it's one of the biggest clubs in eastern Europe.

"The football there is a different type and you have to adapt very quickly or you get left on the outer.

"I was only 18 years old and it was a big move at that time of my life into professional football but the experience changed my entire outlook on the game.

"When my contract ran down I had a few games out on loan at OFC Belgrade and then got the move to Bolton Wanderers.

"I won all of my international caps while I was at Bolton and to play for New Zealand is what you dream of," he told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Mitchell was a product of the New Zealand age-group system winning caps at U-17, U-20 and U-23 level but for him making it into the All Whites environment was a dream come true.

"I was ecstatic when I got the call, I rang my parents straight away and once I put that fern on in a starting debut against Canada it was a big occasion in my life and career," he said.

Ends

FACTFILE

Name: Adam Mitchell
Age: 23
Position: Defender
Previous clubs: Central United (NZL), Wanderers SC (NZL), WaiBOP United (NZL), Red Star Belgrade (SBR), OFK Belgrade (SRB), Team Wellington (NZL).
International caps: 4
International goals: 0
International debut: v Canada (N) lost 0-1, 24 March, 2018.

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