The Melbourne Knights have announced their first signing of the off-season with the capture of left-back Stefan Cali from Adelaide-based club White City Woodville.
The 21 year-old defender has previous experience with Adelaide United’s youth team as well plying his trade for some of South Australia’s biggest clubs.
After making his senior debut for Adelaide City under Socceroos great Damian Mori, the fullback was accepted into the South Australian Institute of Sport (SAIS).
Following his spell at the SAIS, Cali featured for the North Eastern MetroStars with his good form earning him selection into the Adelaide United Youth Team for the 2012/13 NYL Season where he played alongside the likes of Awer Mabil, Jacob Melling, current Bentleigh Greens midfielder Dion Kirk and the reigning NPL Victoria Rising Star Jake Halliday of Pascoe Vale.
A return back to the Metro Stars brought the youngster his first taste of silverware as Ivan Karlovic’s side won the inaugural edition of the NPL South Australia in 2013 and went back-to-back the following season.
Cali and his teammates then stunned many pundits by upsetting both South Melbourne and the Bonnyrigg White Eagles to claim the national title in the 2014 NPL Finals Series with the then 20-year-old rewarded for his efforts by claiming the John Aloisi Rising Star Award in the process.
A move to White City Woodville in 2015 followed but despite some good form, he was unable to prevent Sergio Melta’s side from avoiding relegation to the state’s second tier.
“Just walking down the drive-way and looking at the stadium, the large Knights logo on the side, straight away you know this is a massive club,” Cali said via press release.
“The likes of Mark Viduka played here and the clubs he went on to play for. I really think this is a good move for me to go interstate, and I couldn’t think of anywhere else to go but Melbourne Knights”
Although primarily utilised at left-back, Cali is also comfortable at centre-back as well as in the middle of the park and is known for his long throw-ins.
His arrival comes a day after the club departed company with long-serving full-back Anthony Colosimo, goalkeeper Chris May, midfielder Alex Dao and attacker Rodrigo Covarrubias with more signings expected in the near future.