Pune FC sign Portuguese playmaker Edgar Marcelino for remainder of the season
Pune FC has completed their foreign quota with the addition of seasoned Portuguese playmaker Edgar Carvalho Figueira Marcelino for the remainder of the 2014/15 season. The 30-year-old midfielder joins Pune FC after a brief stint with FC Goa in the ISL, and adds valuable experience to the squad.
As a fourth overseas player in the squad, he replaces Liberian Eric Brown and joins Japanese attacker Ryuji Sueoka, Brazilian defender Luciano Sabrosa and Montenegro striker Darko Nikac in the Pune FC squad.
Chirag Tanna, Pune FC Head Operations said, "We felt that the squad needed a creative midfielder and Edgar fit the bill perfectly. I would like to wish Edgar the very best of luck for the I-League."
Karim Bencherifa, Pune FC Head Coach said, "I am very happy that Edgar was able to joins us today for the training. He is a good player and has a very positive attitude. I wish him the best for the season ahead."
Marcelino represented FC Goa in the 2014 ISL
The Coimbra-born midfielder began his youth career with a brief stint with Academica (1996-97) before moving to European giants Sporting Clube de Portugal where he spent five years coming up through the youth ranks. At the start of 2002-03 season, Edgar was called up to the reserve side of Sporting and played for two seasons in the second division. The midfielder then had loan spells at Penafiel (2004-05) in Portugal and RBC Roosendaal (2005-06) in the Netherlands.
The following year, he made the big move to Portuguese top flight side Vitória de Guimarães (2006) before heading to Cyprus to represent AC Omonia (2007-08) during which he played UEFA Europa League. A successful season in Cyprus saw him move to Spanish second division side Racing Club de Ferrol (2008). However, Edgar moved back to Cypriot signing with APOP Kinyras FC (2008-11) and helped them to a domestic cup title the first season. In his two year stint at APOP, he became an integral part of the side even representing them in the UEFA Europa League.
At the start of 2011-12 season Edgar moved to his native land to represent top-flight side Estoril GD (2011) before moving down south to play for Moroccan side Kawkab Marrakech (2011-12). Edgar then had stints with Cypriot-based AEP Paphos (2013) and Oman’s Al Seeb FC (2013-14) before moving to India with FC Goa (2014).
The first-ever Portuguese player to play for Pune FC, Edgar also becomes the fourth European to ply his trade for the club after Spaniard Raul Fabiani (2013), Englishman Calum Angus (2013-14) and the recently signed Montenegro striker Darko Nikac.
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