THE BLOG BY CPD FOOTBALL | The World of Indian football and beyond by Chris Punnakkattu Daniel

Pune FC confirms signing of Australian Mirjan Pavlović

Mirjan Pavlović

Mirjan Pavlović

Pune FC have confirmed the signing of Croatian-born Australian striker Mirjan Pavlović for the remainder of the 2013-14 season.

Mirjan, thus becomes the club’s fifth signing of the transfer window after Nicolau Borges, Zeeshan Rahaman, Gabriel Fernandes and Lester Fernandez. The Australian replaces fellow countryman James Meyer and joins the squad in the Asian quota.

The 24-year old striker arrived earlier in the morning today and completed formalities before having a training session with rest of the team at the Balewadi Stadium.

Speaking on the signing, Pune FC Head Operations Chirag Tanna said, “I would like to welcome Mirjan to Pune and would like to wish him the very best of luck. Mirjan’s addition would help with the balance of the squad and he will have an important role to play for the remainder of the I-League and during the AFC Cup.”

Pune FC coach Mike Snoei said, “I am very happy that he has finally arrived. Mirjan is a strong guy and hopefully he can get us a few goals.”

The six-foot tall striker came through the ranks at A-League side Newcastle Jets before making his senior level debut for Western Sydney Berries in the New South Wales Super League in 2009.

The following season Mirjan returned to Newcastle Jets. He made his top flight debut and played his first full season in the 2010 A-League for the Jets.

After making few appearances for the Jets, he moved to Sydney United 58 FC who also plied their trade in the NSW Super League scoring six goals in 16 appearances.

His next stop was New Zealand-based A-League side Wellington Phoenix where he spent two further seasons making a total of 24 appearances.

After leaving the Phoenix mutually in 2012, Mirjan then rejoined Sydney United.

In the recently completed season, Mirjan scored ten goals in 19 competitive matches finishing as the club’s second top scorer and helping them win both the New South Wales Premier League title and also the inaugural National Premier League (newly formed Australian 2nd Division).

Also a former junior Australia-international, Mirjan has featured for the Australia Under-23 team on four occasions, most recently in 2011 against Japan.