Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Defender Alex Wilkinson Set To Quit K-League, Opens Up About The Possibility Of Returning to A-League
Australian soccer player Alex Wilkinson has admitted he is open to the possibility of returning to his hometown to play for the A-League after finishing his contract with South Korean team Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in December.
31-year-old Wilkinson has played seven seasons for the Central Coast Mariners in the Australian league before playing for a loan season in Chinese Super League's Jiangsu Sainty. In 2012, Wilkinson joined the K-League to play for the Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.
"I'm not going to stay [in K-League]," Wilkinson says, according to an article by The Sydney Morning Herald on Monday. "I want to change. I don't know what's going to happen yet. I'm keeping an open mind. I probably won't know anything until November or December."
When asked if he has plans on returning to Australia, Wilkinson answers, "It's going to be a bit up in the air. I'll talk to my wife."
"I've got a little one so once the season finishes in Korea we'll have a chat and see where she's at and if she's comfortable wanting to stay overseas, maybe we'll look at it."
Wilkinson goes on, "If not, I'll 100 per cent definitely be open to coming home. At the moment there's definitely been no decisions made either way."
He adds that he would love to play for European leagues if given the chance; however, Wilkinson understands that he is not getting any younger and admits that younger players are likely to be seen in European leagues.
"If an opportunity came up, yeah. I suppose you sort of find that a lot of the European leagues would look for younger players these days. You don't really see too many older players heading over there. If an opportunity came, of course, I'd love to. Whether that happens or not, who knows?"
The Australian player adds that he is not certain whether something will be offered to him to make him stay in the K-League, but shares that he has to consider his family on his decisions.
"I've been there four years and to be honest I don't know if the club are going to offer me anything anyway. We're in a smallish town, my son's nearly 3½ now and it's time for him to start thinking about schools."
He adds, "If we're going to be overseas we need to be in a city where there's a decent sized population, suitable international schooling and whatnot and a bit more to do outside of football. When they're a little baby it doesn't really matter where you are. They sleep and you can take care of them in that sort of way."
Wilkinson also says that he has enjoyed his stay with Jeonbuk and describes it as a "great club." He adds that he's keeping his mind open to possibilities.
