Melbourne Victory striker Danny Allsopp quits for cashed-up Qatar
September 08, 2009
Socceroos striker Danny Allsopp has quit the Melbourne Victory to join cashed-up Qatari outfit Al-Rayyan Sports Club for an undisclosed fee.
Allsopp, 31, was a key member of both of the Victory's A-League premiership-winning sides.
He leaves as Melbourne's games record-holder with 89 and his tally of 36 goals for the club is second only to long-time forward partner Archie Thompson.
Allsopp originally joined the Victory from English club Hull City and paid tribute to coach Ernie Merrick and his former teammates before departing for the Middle East on Tuesday night.
"I really want to say thanks to all of my teammates and everyone at the club who helped me get this opportunity, which is great for me and my family," Allsopp said in a statement.
"In particular, I'd like to thank Ernie and the coaching staff, who helped me develop as a person on and off the pitch, as well as the fans who supported me over the years.
"I really enjoyed myself here. They've been the best years of my career and I want to thank everyone for all their help.
"I came to the club when we didn't really have anything. Nobody knew who Melbourne Victory was and now it's pretty big here in Melbourne.
"It's sad that I'm parting ways for the time being to take this chance."
Allsopp was contracted to the Victory until the end of the current season.
His departure leaves skipper Kevin Muscat as the only player to have played continuously for the Victory since the inception of the A-League.
Current squad members Thompson and Adrian Leijer were also there at the beginning of the inaugural season, but have also spent time at Dutch side PSV Eindhoven and English Premier League outfit Fulham respectively.
Victory football operations manager Gary Cole said Allsopp would forever be a part of the club's history.
"To put it simply, Danny has been a tremendous player over the past five seasons and leaves as the club's record games holder and second highest goal scorer," he said.
"We wish him and his family all the best as he embarks on the next stage of his career."
Allsopp won the Golden Boot award as the league's leading scorer in 2006-07 and made his international debut for Australia two years ago.
AAP
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26045275-5000940,00.html
