Could former Chelsea star Bosnich be City's new No 1?
David Cuffley Former Premiership star Mark Bosnich could emerge as a shock candidate for the Norwich City goalkeeping jersey.
David Cuffley
Former Premiership star Mark Bosnich could emerge as a shock candidate for the Norwich City goalkeeping jersey.
The controversial 37-year-old, who last appeared in English football in 2001, is making a comeback in his native Australia.
And during the past week he is reported to have met the Canaries' first team coach, Ian Crook, currently on holiday in Sydney.
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Bosnich, who won 17 caps for his country, was a Premiership title-winner with Manchester United nine years ago after twice winning the League Cup with Aston Villa.
He had a five-year exile from football after being sacked by Chelsea in 2002 for failing a drugs test. In 2007, he resurfaced when he trained with Queens Park Rangers, then last year had a seven-game stint with A-League team Central Coast Mariners in Australia.
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Bosnich has now signed a contract with Sydney Olympic until the end of the season. He makes his debut tomorrow at home to Bonnyrigg White Eagles in the Telechoice New South Wales Premier League.
One interested spectator may be Crook, who is reported to have met Bosnich for a “catch-up meeting” over lunch.
With City selling Scotland international David Marshall, ever-present for the past two seasons, to Cardiff, and no announcement yet over the future of Stuart Nelson, there is potentially at least one senior goalkeeping vacancy at Carrow Road.
“We won't know our transfer budget for a while and there's a few players in the mix, but all options are open,” Crook told the Daily Telegraph in Sydney.
After a troubled personal life - he was made bankrupt at the High Court in London last year - Bosnich's comeback could give him one final chance of a full-time deal in Europe or the A-League, with the Australian season ending in August.
He said: “Yes, I would like to use it as a springboard but without being disrespectful to Olympic, as without this opportunity I wouldn't have a springboard.
“My mindset when I came over here was that I came out of a dark hole, probably darker than any of you will ever know. I was a day-by-day prospect.
“My main concern then was I had to put something back.
“If I can't motivate myself to play here then there's no use thinking about playing in the A-League or overseas again.”
Mark Bosnich fact file
Age: 37
Born: Fairfield, New South Wales, Australia
Clubs: Sydney Croatia, Manchester United (twice), Aston Villa, Chelsea, Central Coast Mariners, Sydney Olympic
Football League Debut: for Manchester United v Wimbledon, April 30, 1990.
Club honours: League Cup winner 1994, 1996; Premiership winner 1999-2000.
International honours: 17 caps for Australia (1 goal), played in 1992 Olympics and 1997 Confederations Cup.
Off-field problems - 1996: Fined �1,000 for Nazi salute to Tottenham fans. 2002: Sacked by Chelsea and banned from football for nine months after failing drugs test. 2008: Made bankrupt at High Court in London.
* Visit the Pink Un messageboard to write what you think about the possibility of Bosnich joining the Canaries. Also see Monday's Evening news for fans' reaction to the story.
