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Michael Beauchamp

Defender Michael Beauchamp has left Melbourne Heart to join his hometown club Sydney FC on a multi-year deal.

After spending a solitary season with last season's A-League debutants, the two-time World Cup player will link up with his new team-mates for pre-season training in July.

The move has been approved by Heart despite Beauchamp still owing one year from his current two-year contract.

The deal gives the versatile defender the option to seek short-term options abroad in between the A-League season to bolster his chances of national selection.

"I still have my sights set on furthering my Socceroos career, but my immediate priority is to play well for my new club and help with the club's goal to bring about another championship," the 23-year-old, who has played in Germany with FC Nuremberg and in the United Arab Emirates with Al Jazira, said.

He added: "The ideal situation would be to remain at Sydney FC long term and regain selection into the Socceroos squad."

"I have only heard good things about head coach (Sydney boss) Vitezslav Lavicka, so can�t wait to work under him."

Beauchamp, who made 19 appearances for the Heart, found first-team opportunities limited given the rise of youngster Michael Marrone.

"I am a Sydney boy as well and played a lot of my football here, so being back home is a bit of a thrill for me too."

Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka expressed delight at Beauchamp's arrival, which will bring some much-need experience and steel at the back for FC, who finished with the fourth worst goal difference last season.

"We all know he is a good player. He has a lot of international experience. He's been to two World Cups with the Socceroos and is a big, tall, strong defender," the Czech said.

"He has experience in Europe at some big clubs so he will be very valuable to us. He is an excellent character and I expect him to, and I know he will, provide us with good play and of course good leadership at the back."

Beauchamp, who has 22 international caps to his name, is likely to slot into fullback position left vacated by Byun Sung-hwan, who has departed for Newcastle Jets.

Ange Postecoglou

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Roar coach Ange Postecoglou has insisted he will take his time in recruiting new players for the next Hyundai A-League season with the Brisbane boss announcing his intent to cast a keen eye over the Asian market.

The Hyundai A-League Champions made their return to the Ballymore training field yesterday after a well-deserved seven week break with 16 members of last year�s squad retained for next season � a campaign which will include the club�s maiden appearance in the AFC Champions League.

With young Sydney FC defender Matt Jurman also set join the Roar after the Sky Blues� current ACL commitments, Postecoglou is left with a minimum of three squad spots to fill before the season kicks off in early October.

After a year which witnessed the emergence of an exciting, new brand of Australian football, a 28-game undefeated streak, the club�s maiden premiership and the most memorable Hyundai A-League grand final in the competition�s short history, Postecoglou�s eagerness to preserve the team�s dynamic was understandable.

�Last year we had to sign 12-13 players, it was a hectic off-season,� Postecoglou said.

�I�ve enjoyed the fact we can be a little more selective and go through the processes.

"It is important that the two or three new ones are the right ones.�

Acknowledging the unique challenge posed by competing in the ACL, Postecoglou said it was only fitting for him and his coaching staff to look to the Asian football competitions to bolster their squad list.

�We�re searching far and wide but there�s no rush with that because we have to get it right,� he said.

�We only have three foreigners on our books at the moment which I�m not too distressed about, especially with the ACL where you can only have three foreigners and an Asian player.

�We�re going to have a look at the Asian markets as well, it makes sense for us to look there.�

However, Postecoglou didn�t believe an influx of new players was the club�s highest priority in the fight to retain their Hyundai A-League Premiership and Championship crowns and make a successful mark in the ACL, where Australian sides have experienced mixed success in recent years.

Instead, the five-time national championship-winning coach claimed that the development of the current crop of Brisbane players was his main concern, despite last season�s overwhelming achievements.

�I don�t think the new additions are going to define our season, I think our season is going to be defined by how much we can improve the players we�ve got here,� Postecoglou said.

�It�s pretty simple our goal � we�ve got to play better, that�s it.

�We�ve got to improve on what we did last year and improve on the way we play.�

With more than five months until next season�s opening round, Postecoglou�s main recruitment focuses are thought to be a striker and a defender to replace departed duo Jean Carlos Solorzano (Melbourne Victory) and Milan Susak (Indonesian Premier League).