Pantelis commits to Reds

15 March 2010-SBS

Adelaide United midfielder Lucas Pantelis will remain a "Red" for at least the next two seasons after signing a contract extension, the club said.

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The new two-year deal is set to see Pantelis become one of the club’s longest serving players, the pint-sized left footer joining captain Travis Dodd and defender Robert Cornthwaite as lone survivors at United from the inaugural A-League season.

After some uncertainty about where his playing future lay with his current contract ending in June, Pantelis is pleased to have signed with the Reds and that he can concentrate on giving two of his best years to the club.

“I’ve been here for five years and I’ve been very happy during that time, so I’m looking forward to the next couple of seasons and am glad it (the speculation) is all done and dusted.

"At the age of 28 you would think you’ve got the next two or three best years in front of you, and I’ve started well in the AFC Champions League and want to continue that form into the next four games of the group stage, and then on into the A-League.”

Pantelis, who was the Reds’ leading scorer in the A-League 2009/1010 season, has been in fine touch in the ACL and coach Aurelio Vidmar exclaimed it is this form that he hopes Pantelis will continue to produce.

“We’re really pleased that we were able to secure Lucas’ signature. He’s in some really good touch at the moment and that’s the Lucas Pantelis we all know and he’ll be a valuable asset for the next two years,” Vidmar said.

“It’s starting to come together and at this time of year players want to know who’s staying and who’s going, and Lucas is another piece of that puzzle.”