Following a month of solid negotiations, Brisbane Roar has secured the services of Costa Rican striker Jean Carlo Solozarno for the Hyundai A-League 2010/11 season.
Signed on loan from Costa Rican powerhouse LD Alajuelense for one year, the pacy front runner completes Brisbane’s recruiting for the interim.
Brisbane Head Coach Ange Postecoglou said the exciting 22-year-old had all the attributes to be a success in the Hyundai A-League.
“We-ve obviously been looking for a striker for a little while and for me it was about finding someone who fits with what we are trying to create here,” Postecoglou said.
“I was keen on somebody who was young and ambitious and they-re hard to come by.
“If anyone is young and talented they tend to stay in those overseas leagues.
“We-ve worked hard to find that kind of player and from my point of view he fits the bill.
“He-s young, he-s already had success in his home country of Costa Rica, he was the top goalscorer for his club last year, he-s already been in camp with the national team and he-s looking to move abroad.
“He-s quick and he scores goals. We needed a bit more depth up front and he certainly does that for us.”
Brisbane were not the only club keen on the signature of the Costa Rican youth international, with interest also coming from Major League Soccer in the United States and European clubs.
Having made his debut in the Costa Rican Primera Division as a 16-year-old in 2005, Solorzano has gained selection for his country at under-17 and under-20 level and has participated in several camps with the Costa Rican senior national team.
The striker was part of the Costa Rican under-17 team which participated in the World Cup in Peru in 2005 and the under-20 side which competed in the World Cup in Canada in 2007.
Solorzano was Alajuelense-s leading scorer in the recently completed Costa Rican season, scoring 12 goals in 25 games.
“At the age of 22 at his club last season he scored 12 goals, so that-s going to bring him attention,” Postecoglou said.
“We-ve been working on him for awhile and I was able to convince him to come here.
“Obviously he knows Carlos Hernandez (Melbourne Victory) quite well, so he-s already familiar with the football here.”
PLAYER PROFILE
Name: Jean Carlo Solorzano
D.O.B.: January 8, 1988
Height: 180cm
Weight: 75kg
Club career: LD Alajuelense (61 games, 21 goals)
Honours: Costa Rica under-17, Costa Rica under-20
