Kolkata: Two-time ISL finalists Kerala Blasters announced the arrival of former Manchester United defender Wes Brown as their latest overseas signing for the upcoming ISL season.
The club who has made it a norm to announce it’s signings via Twitter, once again tweeted to announce the singing of the 37-year old defender.
“One of PLs most decorated players, @rmeulensteen1 ‘s own, @wesbrown24 joins the Blasters family. #KBFC #NammudeSwantham,” the club tweeted out soon after the deal was finalised.
Brown a product of United’s own academy, spent 19 years with the club after coming up through the ranks. He made a record 362 appearances for the first team winning five Premier League titles and also two Champions League trophies, before leaving the club in 2011 for Sunderland.
He was part of the famous United side that won the treble in the 1998-99 season and also a key member of the Champions League winning team of 2008. A regular member of the side under Sir Alex Ferguson, Brown also provided the assist to Cristiano Ronaldo in the Champions League final against Chelsea in Moscow, in the year 2008.
Excited on joining Kerala Blasters, the former England international put out a series of tweet, “Hello India, Happy Independence day! I’m coming soon to the exciting Indian Super League to play for Kerala Blasters,” he wrote, followed by “I can’t wait to play in front of one of the best fans in the world. Kerala, see u soon!”
The Englishmen is not only a central defender, but can also be a threat in the right-back position and will partner Sandesh Jhingan in the Kerala defence.
He has made a total of 23 international appearances for England and was a free agent after the completion of his one year stint with Engilsh Championship side Blackburn Rovers, before signing for the ISL side Kerala Blasters.
While Brown’s addition is definitely a massive signing for the Blasters, there seems to be no ending of happiness for the Kerala fans as the club has also started negotiations with another Manchester United star, Dimitar Berbatov.
Head coach of the Blasters Rene Meulensteen definitely has a big role to play in the signings of the former United stars, having coached them earlier as an assistant to the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.
Having finished as runners-up both the times they made it to the finals (both times they lost to ATK), Kerala seems to be making a statement by building a formidable team to aim for glory this season.
The year the ISL begins in November and will have 10 teams competing for the trophy. Last year’s runners-up Kerala Blasters, would be one of the sides to watch out for with all the signings they have made so far and with a coach who has seen glory for a good part of his managerial career.