In the last two days, Western Sydney Wanderers FC have announced the signing of two talented Greek Australians who will play for the club in the 2021/22 A-League season. They are: Terry Antonis and Johnny Koutroumbis.
Terry Antonis:
27-year-old midfielder, Terry Antonis, returns to play for the Wanderers in the upcoming season on a three year deal.
A familiar face to the Wanderers faithful, Antonis played in the Red and Black in the 2016/17 season, including in the club’s third AFC Champions League campaign and in the A-League Finals Series.
Antonis joins from Korean League club, Suwon Samsung Bluewings, who he joined from Melbourne Victory in 2019, going on to win the Korean FA Cup in his first season at the club.
Antonis, who is returning from Korea with his wife and daughter for pre-season training, said he was excited to be coming home to Western Sydney and continuing to grow as a footballer.
“I’m 27 now, this is an important moment for me, I’ve learned a lot about myself on and off the field, I want to keep learning every day so to be able to put that into training and into games,” Antonis said.
“I’ve enjoyed my time in Korea for the past couple of years, it was good to be at a big club in Korea but I am looking forward to coming home.
“Obviously being from the West it is very exciting to be coming home, I spoke to the coach (Carl Robinson) and I spoke to JT (CEO John Tsatsimas) and I want to win things with the Wanderers, I want to give all I can for the club and help us get to the finals.”
Wanderers CEO, John Tsatsimas, said it was fantastic to welcome home another son of Western Sydney to the club.
“Welcoming Terry back to the club is fantastic, it brings home another Western Sydney footballer to play in front of family and friends and is very important to what we are continuing to build at this club,” Tsatsimas said.
Johnny Koutroumbis:
23-year-old defender, Johnny Koutroumbis, has signed with the Wanderers for the next two seasons, the club announced today.
Koutroumbis joins the Red & Black after a five-year spell at Newcastle Jets where he made 90 appearances in the domestic competition.
Koutroumbis said he was excited to take the next step of his career at the Wanderers.
“Games against the Wanderers always had a sense of tension due to the fact they are one of the biggest clubs in the country,” Koutroumbis said.
“The main decision to join the club was because I wanted to challenge myself under the pressure and expectation from the coaches and fans to be the best player I can possibly be.
“In the short time I was under the Gaffa (head coach Carl Robinson) at the Jets, I felt as though I was a different player. He gave me the confidence and reassurance that a player like myself needs.
“I have a great belief in the gaffer, coaching staff, my new teammates, and myself.
“The goal is to try to play in as many games as I possibly can and win. From a club standpoint and with our high expectations.”
Head coach, Carl Robinson, said he is delighted to work with Koutroumbis again.
“Having previously coached Johnny, I know that he is a hard worker and has a fantastic team-first mentality,” Robinson said.
“Johnny possesses excellent speed with a strong tactical understanding of how I want to play on both sides of the ball.
“He is a great addition to our strong core group of young players we are building and developing here at the Wanderers.”
