Officially Released Alberto Rodriguez, Persib Bandung Gets Croatian Player Mateo Kocijan

Mateo Kocijan is the new player for Persib Bandung (Instagram/@mkocijan.17).

JAKARTA - Persib Bandung officially released Alberto Rodriguez ahead of the 2024/2025 Liga 1 season. Instead, Maung Bandung hooked up Croatian player, Mateo Kocijan, on Wednesday, July 3, 2024.

Persib ended the collaboration with Alberto who also contributed to helping the team win the 2023/2024 Liga 1 title. After separating, Persib took quick steps to announce the new player who filled the position of center-back from Croatia, Mateo Kocijan.

The choice of Mateo to strengthen the team next season is called the Interim Director of Sports of PT Persib Bandung Bermartabat, Adhitia Putra Herawan, as the right decision because of the player's performance according to Maung Bandung's needs.

Adhitia Putra said that one of the reasons for the Mateo Kocijan election was because the player was also used to playing defensive midfielders.

"The coach needs additional players to strengthen the defense. The choice and recommendation submitted by the coach is Mateo Kocijan," said Adhit, quoted from the club's official website, Thursday, July 4, 2024.

Before anchoring to Persib, the 29-year-old player had joined Albania's Superliga club, FK Partizani.

Apart from the Albanian club, Mateo has also played for his own country's team. He is noted to have defended Croatian club Slaven Belupo Koprivnica and NK Borac Imbriovec.

With the experience of playing in the Croatian League and Albania, Mateo Kocijan is expected to make a positive contribution to Persib who are determined to defend the title in the coming season.