Shane McEleney buys into Glentoran vision as Declan Devine delighted to bring in experienced star

Shane McEleney labelled Glentoran a "sleeping giant" after the experienced defender completed his move to The Oval on an 18-month contract.

The 33-year-old centre-back finalised his move following the conclusion of his contract with Derry City after playing for his hometown club in the recent FAI Cup final.

The towering defender, who has also played for St Patrick's Athletic, Larne, Finn Harps and Ottawa Fury during his career, was impressed with the vision sold to him at his new club.

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"I’m absolutely delighted to be joining Glentoran. The club is a sleeping giant with a proud history and I want to play a part in helping the club return to winning silverware," McEleney said.

“I’ve fully bought into the vision here and am motivated to contribute to what Declan and the team are building. Having met the squad and coaching staff, I can see the togetherness and ambition within the group and I’m excited to get started and play in front of the incredible Glentoran fans.”

The former Republic of Ireland U21 international has almost 400 senior appearances and three trophies to his name in a career spanning more than a decade. He bagged an FAI Cup winner’s medal in 2012 with Derry City – then managed by current Glentoran First Team Manager Declan Devine, who is delighted to bring him to The Oval.

“Shane will bring a wealth of experience to Glentoran," said Devine. "He’s represented some big clubs in his career and is a tremendous leader both on and off the pitch. His quality on the ball, defensive ability and leadership skills will make him an invaluable asset to our squad.

"I’ve had the privilege of working with Shane before, including winning the FAI Cup together at Derry City and I know how driven and committed he is to success. He will play a pivotal role in what we’re building here at Glentoran.

“His signing reflects our determination to strengthen the squad and bring success back to the BetMcLean Oval. We’re assembling a team capable of challenging for silverware and Shane’s experience and leadership will be integral to that ambition."

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