Soccer-Former Australia defender Sainsbury returns to Central Coast

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - International Friendly - Australia v New Zealand - Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, Australia - September 22, 2022 Australia's Trent Sainsbury in action with New Zealand's Andre de Jong REUTERS/Loren Elliott

(Reuters) - Former Australia international defender Trent Sainsbury has signed for A-League champions Central Coast Mariners, the club said on Friday.

The 32-year-old, who has played 58 times for Australia, left the club to play for Dutch side PEC Zwolle in 2014.

"I'm super excited to be returning to the Central Coast," said Sainsbury, who won the A-League title with the Mariners in 2013 and was part of Australia's 2015 Asian Cup-winning side.

The central defender's arrival bolsters the Central Coast squad for the new season, which kicks off with Mariners' game against Chinese Super League side Shandong Taishan in the Asian Champions League Elite on Sept. 17.

(Reporting by Michael Church, Editing by Ed Osmond)