30岁的澳大利亚国脚Awer Mabil与墨尔本城足球俱乐部签署三年合约，结束了在欧洲长达12年的职业生涯[1]。这位曾效力西班牙、丹麦、土耳其、葡萄牙、瑞士和捷克等国俱乐部的国脚表示："我已经踢了12年，我觉得可能已经够了。"[1]Mabil曾参加两届世界杯并在欧冠联赛中出场过[1]，此番回归澳大利亚A联赛标志着其职业生涯的重大转折。
促使Mabil做出这一决定的主要原因是与家人团聚[1]。他的兄弟在他离开澳大利亚时分别只有3岁和5岁，如今已分别长到16岁和13岁[1]。除了家庭因素外，Mabil还希望为南苏丹后裔群体树立榜样[1]。他计划继续为澳大利亚国家队效力，参加1月在沙特阿拉伯举行的亚洲杯[1]。Mabil将在墨尔本城与同胞球员Aziz Behich和Mathew Leckie效力[1]。
Australian national team player Awer Mabil has signed a three-year contract with Melbourne City, marking his return to the A-League after spending 12 years in European football [1]. The 30-year-old, who has competed in two FIFA World Cups and played across multiple European nations, made the decision to come home primarily to reunite with his family [1].
Mabil's European career spanned 12 years, during which he played for clubs in Spain, Denmark, Turkey, Portugal, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic, including appearances in European championship competitions [1]. Reflecting on his decision, Mabil stated, "I've done 12 years, I reckon that might be enough" [1]. His brothers, who were 3 and 5 years old when he departed Australia, are now 16 and 13 [1]. Beyond personal reasons, Mabil aims to serve as a role model for the South Sudanese diaspora community [1].
The move comes ahead of the Asian Cup, scheduled to take place in January in Saudi Arabia, where Mabil plans to continue representing the Australian national team [1]. At Melbourne City, he will join fellow Socceroos Aziz Behich and Mathew Leckie [1].