Vince Grella's move to the Melbourne Heart is a good one, say some ex-Socceroos. Source: News Limited
SOCCEROOS greats Mark Bosnich and Stan Lazaridis say Vince Grella's move to Melbourne Heart will reignite his international career.
Grella, 33, has committed to joining Heart on a one-year deal after a frustrating stint at English club Blackburn.
He will arrive in Melbourne on Saturday and will plan to play early next month.
The midfield enforcer has not played for Australia since the 4-0 loss to Germany at the 2010 World Cup, but Bosnich said Socceroos boss Holger Osieck could do worse than throw Grella a lifeline.
"He's still got the goods," Bosnich said.
"At his prime he was a world-class performer. You don't lose that. You don't get to play in the English Premier League and Serie A unless you are a great player."
"It's a fantastic opportunity for Vinnie as well because I've got a feeling that we might need him for the rest of the World Cup qualifiers as well."
Lazaridis agreed, pointing to the impact Mark Bresciano has had on the national side since he ended a self-imposed 18-month exile in February.
"I think Holger Osieck would love to see him in the side. I think he's got a leaning towards him. He just needs him to have a regular run," Lazaridis said.
Grella has played most of his career in Italy - at Empoli, Ternana, Parma and Torino - before moving to the English Premier League in 2008, where he played only 38 games for Blackburn.
Having been dogged by knee, groin and calf problems, Grella trained with Heart in July, but was getting big offers from the Middle East and Italy at the time.
Heart had virtually given up on signing the Melburnian when he returned to Italy with his Italian wife.
But Grella kept in touch with good mate John Aloisi and a week ago told the Heart coach he was keen to come back home.
Heart chief executive Scott Munn said he was excited by the prospect of welcoming the 46-cap Socceroo to the club.
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