10 things you didn't know about East Bengal’s fourth foreigner, Andrew Barisi?

File Photo: Andrew Barisic

‘Just do it’, that just might be Andrew Barisi?’s main determination, as he was coming out from the club premises wearing a black t-shirt with those exact words written in different colours. After Tolgay Ozbey, he is the second Aussie star who has joined East Bengal, and fans would expect a lot from their new striker.

According to the latest reports, Barisi? might make his I-League debut today, against Pune FC. It is going to be a huge challenge for him, as East Bengal is very much in the title race. It will also be interesting to see whether or not he will able to help the Red & Gold Brigade grab this season’s I-League title, thus becoming a heart-throb for the East Bengal supporters.

Let’s take a look at the Aussie star’s fact file:

1. He was born on 22^nd March 1986 in Canberra, Australia.
2. This 6 ft 2 in striker started his football career in 2002, when he joined Act Academy of Sport (ACTAS).
3. Only 26, he has already played for 10 clubs (2 youth clubs and 8 Senior Clubs). Technically good and right footed, he has bags of pace and can beat any defender for a loose long ball. His main strength is his supreme aerial ability.
4. After completing his youth career in the year 2003 in Canberra Deakin club, his first break in the professional league came in the year 2004, when he joined the Melbourne Knights in the Victorian Premier League. In his two years at the club, he scored 9 goals in his 40 appearances.
5. In 2006 he joined German club Arminia Hannover, founded in 1910, where he scored a single goal in 22 appearances.
6. He moved back to Australia and signed for his former club, Melbourne Knights, in 2007 where his form and sublime playing ability made him a key member of the club. He has scored 19 goals in his 21 appearances.
7. After playing just one year at his former club, Barisi? joined Australian League club, Gold Cost United in the year 2008 on a one-year contract, where he scored just 2 goals in his 17 appearances.
8. The following year, he joined Indonesian team, Persebaya 1927 on a similar one-year contract, and scored 10 goals for his club in his 14 appearances.
9. The next year, he joined Indonesia’s most successful and supported clubs, Arema Indonesia, where he scored 8 goals in his 15 appearances.
10. He has currently signed for Kolkata giants East Bengal.