Adelaide United sign Ukrainian veteran

Adelaide United have announced the signing of Ukrainian Evgeniy Levchenko on a one-year deal.

The A-League club announced the signing on Monday, with the 33-year-old joining fellow new signings Dario Vidosic and Jon McKain at the club.

Adelaide United head coach Rini Coolen was pleased with his newest signing and hopes his experience helps United in season 2011/12.

“He (Levchenko) has played in the highest league in Holland with some good clubs,” Coolen said.

“He is a controlling midfielder with a lot of experience and it is also possible to play him as a left-footed central defender.”

“Together with knowing that he is also strong physically and a very good professional who has looked after his body very well, with all of those things together I have the confidence that he can complement our squad.”

Coolen also made special mention of the fitness of Levchenko, who has the experience of playing several years of top-flight football in Holland for the likes of Vitesse Arnhem, Sparta Rotterdam, FC Groningen and Willem II.

“Knowing that he is 33 but that he is still a very fit player, it’s good that he wants to come and play in Australia and with Adelaide United,” he said.

Levchenko has won eight caps for his country and scored 38 goals from over 270 matches in Holland.

His signing means Adelaide’s foreign quota of five players has been filled, with 21 players now in Coolen’s first-team squad.