Who is Tom Aldred, the Brisbane Roar defender who has signed for Mohun Bagan Super Giant?
Mohun Bagan Super Giant announced the arrival of defender Tom Aldred from Australian club Brisbane Roar on Wednesday, July 2. The 33-year-old arrives with a huge reputation, having played for several clubs in Europe and the A-League.
With both Hector Yuste and Brandan Hamill departing, Aldred arrives as the replacement in the center-back position and is expected to feature regularly for the Mariners.
Speaking to the Mohun Bagan media after putting pen on paper, the England-born defender expressed his delight in joining the ISL champions and cited Bagan’s history as one of the major reasons for moving to India.
"I am delighted to be joining Mohun Bagan Super Giant FC. It will be an honour to wear the green and maroon jersey, and I am extremely excited to get started. I am well aware of the incredible history of Mohun Bagan, and I have watched some of the recent successes from afar. I will give my absolute best every single day to represent Mohun Bagan," Aldred told the club's official website.
Which clubs has Tom Aldred played for?
Aldred, born in Bolton, England, began his football career with English third-tier club Carlisle United in 2008. He then moved to lower league team Workington, where his impressive performance earned him a transfer to Championship club Watford after just one season in senior football.
Opportunities at Watford were limited, leading to multiple loan spells before he was sold to Colchester United in 2011. There, he continued to be loaned out to lower division teams until 2012, when he joined League Two team Accrington Stanley. It was at Accrington where Aldred established himself, making 94 appearances over three seasons.
Following his time at Blackpool in the Championship and League One from 2014-2017, Aldred moved to Bury in the same division. After two seasons, the English defender transferred to the Scottish Premiership with Motherwell, where he made over 60 appearances in two seasons before moving to Australia and joining Brisbane Roar in 2019.
Aldred became a standout player for the Roar, playing a crucial role at the club for five seasons. He made 114 appearances for the A-League club, scoring three goals, while also winning the club’s Player of the Year award for the 2022-23 season. Now, with extensive experience and having obtained Australian citizenship earlier this year, Aldred could even feature for the Australian national team.
What will Tom Aldred add to Mohun Bagan Super Giant?
Standing at about 6 feet 2 inches tall, Aldred is a commanding center-back with the ability to lead the backline. Primarily right-footed, he can play both as a right and left-sided center-back and has the versatility to fill in as a defensive midfielder or full-back, although he has done so very few times in his career.
Aldred’s physicality is a standout feature. He is strong aerially, unafraid of jumping into tackles, and willing to put his body on the line for the team. A natural leader, he also excels in reading the game and is particularly solid when defending in the penalty box. These qualities make him an ideal fit for Bagan, who need an experienced defender to guide the younger players.
Aldred is also comfortable in possession. He is also known for his long-range passes, a skillset that has been particularly utilized in Australia where his team relied on him to build play from the back. Additionally, he is a significant threat from set-pieces, having scored several crucial goals in his career.
While Aldred may not be the quickest defender, his ability to read the game and his physicality are certainly assets for the team, making him a valuable addition to their squad.