By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 9:51 AM on 27th January 2011
Former Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie has signed for Bandung FC in Indonesia's breakaway football league.
Hendrie, who spent a decade at the Villa Park from the mid-1990s, has penned a two-year deal and is expected to make his debut for the Javanese club on Saturday.
'He will act as a link-man and second striker who will supply our forwards ... his presence will give us a lift,' Bandung chief executive officer Mohamad Kusnaeni said. 'He will be a role model for other players at Bandung FC given his experience playing in the best league in the world.'
Villa thriller: Lee Hendrie spent more than a decade in the Premier League, mostly with Aston Villa
Capped once by England during his Villa days, Hendrie later dropped down divisions. He became a free agent earlier this month when he was released from a short-term deal at League Two side Bradford City.
An FA Cup runner-up and Intertoto Cup winner with Villa, 33-year-old Hendrie's signing to play in the Indonesian Premier League (LPI) marks his first spell outside England and will be a boon to the new Asian league.
Promise: Hendrie was a regular with the Under 21s, and earned one senior cap
'I am proud to have the opportunity,' Hendrie said at the LPI's offices in Jakarta.
Bandung, who have lost their opening two games of the season, aim to use Hendrie's star appeal to boost the growth of talent at the club.
'As a (globally known) player, Lee Hendrie will be appointed our football ambassador for coaching grassroot and youth development players in Bandung,' Kusnaeni said.
The LPI is an independent professional soccer league launched earlier this month, backed by the sports minister but not the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
The PSSI's official top flight competition is the 18-club Indonesia Super League (ISL). The 19-team LPI, including three who switched from the ISL, is the brainchild of oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro.
'The LPI is a reform league concept that meets with FIFA's direction 'For the Good of the Game' Task Force and AFC's Pro-League Committee,' league official Abi Hasantoso said.
'The LPI was created to improve the achievements of national football.'
Despite being ranked just 126th in the world by FIFA, Indonesian fans remain very passionate about the game. Other notable players to have plied their trade on the archipelago include Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes and Cameroonian striker Roger Milla.
Promise: Hendrie was a regular with the Under 21s, and earned one senior cap
Last updated at 9:51 AM on 27th January 2011
Former Aston Villa and England midfielder Lee Hendrie has signed for Bandung FC in Indonesia's breakaway football league.
Hendrie, who spent a decade at the Villa Park from the mid-1990s, has penned a two-year deal and is expected to make his debut for the Javanese club on Saturday.
'He will act as a link-man and second striker who will supply our forwards ... his presence will give us a lift,' Bandung chief executive officer Mohamad Kusnaeni said. 'He will be a role model for other players at Bandung FC given his experience playing in the best league in the world.'
Villa thriller: Lee Hendrie spent more than a decade in the Premier League, mostly with Aston Villa
Capped once by England during his Villa days, Hendrie later dropped down divisions. He became a free agent earlier this month when he was released from a short-term deal at League Two side Bradford City.
An FA Cup runner-up and Intertoto Cup winner with Villa, 33-year-old Hendrie's signing to play in the Indonesian Premier League (LPI) marks his first spell outside England and will be a boon to the new Asian league.
Promise: Hendrie was a regular with the Under 21s, and earned one senior cap
'I am proud to have the opportunity,' Hendrie said at the LPI's offices in Jakarta.
Bandung, who have lost their opening two games of the season, aim to use Hendrie's star appeal to boost the growth of talent at the club.
'As a (globally known) player, Lee Hendrie will be appointed our football ambassador for coaching grassroot and youth development players in Bandung,' Kusnaeni said.
The LPI is an independent professional soccer league launched earlier this month, backed by the sports minister but not the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI).
The PSSI's official top flight competition is the 18-club Indonesia Super League (ISL). The 19-team LPI, including three who switched from the ISL, is the brainchild of oil tycoon Arifin Panigoro.
'The LPI is a reform league concept that meets with FIFA's direction 'For the Good of the Game' Task Force and AFC's Pro-League Committee,' league official Abi Hasantoso said.
'The LPI was created to improve the achievements of national football.'
Despite being ranked just 126th in the world by FIFA, Indonesian fans remain very passionate about the game. Other notable players to have plied their trade on the archipelago include Argentine World Cup winner Mario Kempes and Cameroonian striker Roger Milla.
Promise: Hendrie was a regular with the Under 21s, and earned one senior cap
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