Retired ... Patrick Zwaanswijk will coach the Mariners National Youth League team. Source: Waide Maguire / News Limited
Central Coast Mariners' grand final hero Patrick Zwaanswijk has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 38-year-old defender will hang up his boots after the Asian Champions League round of 16 tie against Marcello Lippi's Chinese heavyweight Guangzhou Evergrande.
Zwaanswijk will take up the role of Head of Youth & Community Football where he will coach the club's National Youth League team and work closely with the academy setup.
The Dutchman spent three years at the Mariners after winning the Dutch League twice and playing in the UEFA Champions League for FC Utrecht - current home of Socceroos Michael Zullo and Adam Sarota.
Zwaanswijk said he knew the time had come to retire, but was delighted to remain in the game.
"At a certain point there’s a transition in life," Zwaanswijk said.
"This is a great opportunity for me, so that made it a little bit easier for me to finish my career."
"For me, it’s important to give back to football and to give back to, at this particular time, the Central Coast Mariners."
Zwaanswijk was one of the heroes in the Mariners' 2013 A-League success, scoring the opener in the grand final and marshalling a water-tight defence all season.
Coach Graham Arnold paid tribute to the towering defender known for possessing a rocket left-foot shoot.
"When we signed Patrick he was 35 and more than a fair share of eyebrows were raised about him joining us," Arnold said.
"But he has proven his quality over the past three seasons, making an enormous contribution to the Mariners and the A-League.
"He’s been a consistent performer for us, and his leadership qualities and ability to help other players get the best out of themselves cannot be doubted."
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