New Roar striker Andrija Kaluderovic has passed his medical and trained with the club’s Hyundai A-League squad for the first time this morning.
After a 20-hour flight from Belgrade where the temperature was minus 5, the Serbian international completed the full 90-minute training session on a steamy 30-degree Brisbane morning.
He showed sharp skills, a powerful shot and looked strong in several set-piece drills.
Roar coach Frans Thijssen has not yet revealed whether Kaluderovic will play in the Roar’s match against Wellington Phoenix at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night (7pm kick off), but the 27-year-old centre forward said he was ready to go.
“If the coach wants me to play, I can play, no problem,” Kaluderovic said.
“I want to help the Roar be Champions again and do well in the AFC Champions League.
“We have quality in this squad. If we make the (Hyundai A-League) play-offs, we can win the Grand Final again.”
Kaluderovic said he had fond memories of his visit to Brisbane when he was a member of the Beijing Guoan side that drew 1-1 with the Roar in an AFC Champions League game at Suncorp Stadium in 2012.
“I remember the club has a very good stadium and I liked the city very much,’’ he said.
Kaluderovic will be presented with his jersey by Thijssen tomorrow morning and will be introduced to the club’s fans in a pre-match interview before tomorrow night’s game.
Kaluderovic has played three times for Serbia at full international level and six times for his country’s under-23 and under-21 teams.
He scored 19 goals in 43 appearances for Red Star Belgrade and most recently has been playing in Switzerland with Super League side FC Thun.
Kaluderovic is the Roar’s third signing in the January transfer window. German utility player Jerome Polenz and former Socceroo defender Luke DeVere were also recruited.
Also at training this morning was former Roar coach Rado Vidosic, who until recently was employed by Sydney FC.
Roar Director of Football Ken Stead confirmed Vidosic had rejoined the coaching staff at the Roar.
“He still has a love for the club and was a natural fit,” Stead said.
