Melbourne Victory secure Macedonian international Daniel Georgievski - Herald Sun

Daniel Georgievski (L) joins Melbourne Victory. Source: Getty Images

MELBOURNE Victory has signed Macedonian international right back Daniel Georgievski for the upcoming season.

But, given that the 26-year-old was born in Blacktown, NSW, and remained in Australia until 2006, he will not take up the last of Victory’s foreign player slots.

Georgievski comes to the A-League with an impressive pedigree.

He has spent the past two years at top Romanian club Steaua București where he played 11 European Champions League matches last season, including home and away ties against Chelsea.

He has previously played for Croatian sides HNK Šibenik and NK Međimurje and represented Macedonia on 20 occasions, including seven matches in the country’s failed 2014 World Cup qualification campaign.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MELBOURNE VICTORY

“Daniel brings quality and experience to Victory, having played at the highest levels in both international and European football,” Victory coach Kevin Muscat said.

“At 26, Daniel is certainly in the prime of his football career and will be an important asset for our squad this year, a season which will be one of our biggest yet.”

Georgievski was a part of the Marconi Stallions youth set-up in the mid 2000s.

He brings to 21 the number of players signed by Victory for the upcoming season.

A-League rules allow for clubs to sign a maximum of 23 senior players.

Victory takes on Adelaide in a pre-season friendly at Coopers Stadium tomorrow, after which Georgievski will begin training with his new teammates.

Daniel Georgievski (L) chases Andre Schurrle (R) of Chelsea. Source: Getty Images

He said in a statement he had been following the progress of the A-League closely over the past few years.

“And when the opportunity arose to return to Australia and play at the biggest club in the league, I was very interested in heading to Melbourne,” Georgievski said.

“I’ve spoken to Kevin about what he expects and have told him what I believe I can bring to Melbourne Victory and I know it is going to be a very big season for the Club and me as a player.

“Playing in Australia, a country that means so much to me, is certainly an exciting opportunity and I can’t wait to start training, meet the Victory players and get the season underway.”