Staying put ... Youssouf Hersi extends his contract at Western Sydney Wanderers. Source: AAP
Western Sydney Wanderers livewire Youssouf Hersi admitted he'd contemplated returning overseas but was swayed to stick with the A-League club after a host of his teammates re-signed.
The 30-year-old winger has been a revelation for the Wanderers in their debut season and will now be in the red and black strip for another year after extending his contract til the end of the 2013-2014 season campaign.
The Ethiopian-born Dutchman is hoping to build on his four goals and seven assists in what has been a remarkable year for the club.
He was in blistering form again against Adelaide on Sunday scoring twice and setting up another to ensure the Wanderers remain in third spot just a point adrift of Melbourne Victory and only four away from table-toppers the Central Coast.
Hersi revealed he'd thought of returning overseas after receiving offers from European clubs, but instead decided to stay on with the Wanderers.
"It was difficult because I wanted to go somewhere else, maybe," he said on Wednesday.
"But I thought no, it's better to stay here, follow my heart."
Part of that decision hinged on whether Hersi would continue playing with a team he's become comfortable with.
"I said, if some players stay, I will stay as well."
Hersi joins defenders Jerome Polenz, Michael Beauchamp, Adam D'Apuzzo, Shannon Cole, goalkeeper Ante Covic and midfielder Mateo Poljak who all re-singed with the club last month.
A question mark still lingers over Japanese star Shinji Ono but Hersi's hopes are high the marquee man will follow suit.
"I hope that he will stay as well for the next year. Let's hope he stays."
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Central Coast | 19 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 17 | 39 |
| 2 | Victory | 19 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 36 |
| 3 | Western Sydney | 19 | 11 | 2 | 6 | 10 | 35 |
| 4 | Adelaide | 19 | 10 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 32 |
| 5 | Newcastle | 19 | 6 | 5 | 8 | -8 | 23 |
| 6 | Brisbane | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -1 | 21 |
| 7 | Heart | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -3 | 21 |
| 8 | Sydney | 19 | 6 | 3 | 10 | -9 | 21 |
| 9 | Wellington | 19 | 5 | 5 | 9 | -10 | 20 |
| 10 | Perth | 19 | 5 | 4 | 10 | -2 | 19 |
The club is in discussions with Ono's representatives and coach Tony Popovic says they're "happy" with the progress.
"We're very positive that the outcome will suit both parties," Popovic said.
"We certainly want him here next year and we're confident that we can achieve that."
Popovic shook off speculation that rival A-League and Chinese clubs were circling.
"Good players are always linked to clubs, so we're actually quite pleased that he's doing that well that other clubs want him," he said.
Hersi, who endured a knee reconstruction while playing in Holland and had not played a game since 2011, and admitted had it not been for the set-back he may never have ended up in Australia.
"Before my injury I would (have never thought I would play in Australia)," he said.
"After my injury maybe, but before, no."
He says not only has he rediscovered his love for the sport but the injury forced him to re-think his attitude toward the game.
"Before my injury...I don't (sic) have too much patience. All I was thinking about was to play as high as possible," he said.
"After my injury I thought (in) a different way, I want to enjoy the football again and be happy and follow my heart...and that's (part of) making the decision to stay here as well."
The Wanderers will attempt to post their fifth consecutive win when they host the Newcastle Jets on Saturday at Campbelltown Stadium.
Watch the Wanderers face Newcastle Jets on Saturday February 9 at 7.30pm (EDT) on Fox Sports 1 and 1HD.
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