Milos Degenek has traded Serbia for America, signing a deal with MLS club Columbus Crew.
The Socceroos defender recently bid farewell to his boyhood club Red Star Belgrade following a highly successful five-year stint and will head to America ahead of the new season.
Degenek's deal runs until 2023, with an option to extend to 2024 or 2025.
Columbus Crew President & General Manager Tim Bezbatchenko explained how the club were pleased to have attracted a player of considerable club and international experience.
“Milos is a center back who brings championship experience and leadership to our squad,” he told the club's website.
In addition to winning domestic and continental titles at the club level, Milos has earned valuable experience with the Australian National Team, including the 2018 World Cup.
"We believe his attributes will serve him well in our league and look forward to seeing him make an impact in our team.”
The Black & Gold kick off their 2022 MLS campaign at home to Vancouver Whitecaps FC on February 26.
MORE: ‘The energy is high’: Degenek welcomes crucial World Cup qualification week
Socceroos defender Milos Degenek provided an insight into the mentality within camp as Australia prepare to host Vietnam on Thursday night in Melbourne and travel to Oman.
The Socceroos have four Group B qualification matches left to make sure a top two position is secured and a direct ticket to this year's FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
After a run of three matches without a victory, Degenek understands the importance of the upcoming fixtures against Vietnam and Oman.
“It’s a very exciting week and a very important week ahead for us,” Degenek told ABC Grandstand radio.
“We need to get the six points to put us on track for the World Cup.
“We started well, then we got a couple of draws but everything is still in our hands and we're still on the right track.
We've got four games and if you win four games, you go to the World Cup. It's pretty simple.
“Everyone's positive and everyone knows what we have to do. The energy is high and everyone's happy because we know we'll be able to do it.”
Thursday night’s match against Vietnam will be the first time in more than four years that the Socceroos have played a match in Melbourne.
After playing without fans for 18 months and with a capacity crowd expected to fill the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Degenek knows just how much of a difference the support will make.
“I think that's what we've been missing in the last two years due to COVID,” he explained.
“When you play in Australia, as we did in Sydney against Saudi Arabia, it was a great atmosphere with an almost full stadium.
Now we are here in Melbourne with a lot of football culture and there are a lot of football fans here so I hope everyone gets out to supports us to give us that energy and be the 12th man.
“It means a lot to us and it can push us over the line to help us do the job that we need to do.”
Despite the teams knowing each other well, Degenek explained that the Socceroos must be wary of the qualities Vietnam and Oman possess.
“Vietnam will probably sit back, let us play football and hope to get us on the counter-attack but we’ve got to be aware and prepared for that,” he said.
“Then with Oman in Muscat, you'd expect them to be really physical and really direct because they will be playing at home.”