Fan favourite ... Daniel McBreen will play on for at least another season. Source: Brett Costello / News Limited
A-League golden boot Daniel McBreen reckoned he could play another five years but settled for a new one-year deal with champions Central Coast Mariners on Monday.
And in a big day of off-season signing news, Mitch Nichols confirmed he will resume his successful association with Ange Postecoglou, with the Socceroos midfielder joining Melbourne Victory on a two-year deal.
McBreen accepted that his age - 36 - deterred coach Graham Arnold from backing him past 2014, but was adamant he'd earn another deal next season.
"I was hoping for 10 years but they wouldn't give me 10," joked McBreen, who capped a career-best season with his 19th goal in the Mariners' 2-0 grand final win over Western Sydney Wanderers last month, earning the Joe Marston Medal.
"He (Arnold) said at my age, it's a year-by-year basis, so I'll just go out there and try and do the same next year and get another contract.
"I've stated before that if they gave me a five-year-deal, I reckon I could see it out.''
McBreen, who has been with the Mariners since 2010, fielded various offers from other clubs in Australia and abroad but none really appealed.
"I've stated many times that I wanted to be here and we had plenty of discussions about it," McBreen said.
"I'm just glad to get it all sorted out and to be here for another year.
"There was a lot of talk about clubs overseas and other A-League teams, but nothing really materialised that I was happy with."
Some of the Mariners young guns - the likes of midfielder Bernie Ibini, defender Trent Sainsbury and goalkeeper Mathew Ryan - are likely to make moves overseas, but McBreen was confident the team could contend for back-to-back championships.
"You don't want to win the league and then everyone disappear and then fall away the next season," he said.
"We've got aspirations to defend the championship so we'll be working hard to be as strong as ever.
"We're not going to take the foot off the pedal."
Nichols, 24, was a key member of the Postecoglou-coached Brisbane Roar sides which won back-to-back A-League titles in 2010-11 and 2011-12.
Postecoglou said he was looking forward to again having the attacking midfielder at his disposal.
"It's an exciting time at Melbourne Victory and acquiring an Australian player of Mitch's quality is testament to that," Postecoglou said.
"For someone so young, he's achieved a lot in his career to date, but he's still extremely hungry for more success and he'll add some real attacking flair to our group.
"Goal-scoring midfielders aren't easy to come by and Mitch's track record speaks for itself."
Nichols has represented Australia at senior, Under-23 and Under-20 level and was a member of the 2011-12 A-League team of the season.
"I'm really excited to be joining Melbourne Victory and linking up with Ange again," he said.
"I've enjoyed six great seasons and plenty of success at Brisbane Roar but I just felt it was time for a change so, when Melbourne came calling, I didn't hesitate - even though I still had options in Europe."
Nichols scored 24 goals in 125 games for the Roar.
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