Returner In Mourning
Right after a cup final loss might not have been the most auspicious of times for a homebound transfer, but for 29 year-old midfielder
Teo Chuan Yong, there was no time like the present. Teo had left the Birds for Spain's Los Cabesones on a free transfer some twelve seasons before, and following a more-than-successful professional career thus far, he has rejoined the Grilled squad on a S$6.2 million fee.
Recounting his footsteps, Los Cabesones would pack him on to Swiss club Milan Fan - now called RC Storm - where he spent the next four-and-a-half seasons. Teo's big break came when he was twenty-two, when he secured a S$7.8 million move to Estonian fourth division side Fc Pigistajad, which was where he made his name. Twice recognized as the most improved player for the season there, he would make well over a hundred appearances for them, before landing at Italy's Fast Tatino via an abortive two-week stay with Hungary's Makkok.
Teo's wages were reportedly a sticking point at Fast Tatino, however, with their budget already severely stressed thanks to fellow playmakers Haşim Dirik and Jean-Philippe Vanschooren, and it was perhaps unavoidable that head coach Angel Mihaylov would have to move at least one of them on. The arrival of veteran do-it-all Nicola Mureddu only furthered such suspicions, and it turned out to be Teo who would be cut.
That said, it certainly didn't seem like a demotion for the Singaporean, given that he was bound for the reigning national double winners - who were moreover his neighbourhood club. "I wasn't exactly eager to leave, you know." Teo would explain. "But when the offer came in from the Birds, I had to tell my agent: Grab it, grab it now!"
Teo has selected the Number Fourteen jersey last worn by Rashid bin Ahmad, and according to
Eren Serpin, he will be expected to hit the ground running. "We have a national league title to challenge for, and everyone will have to be ready to do the pulling."
