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Posted: Sunday, February 28th 2021
City sign Mariappa
Wednesday, November 11th 2020
City have added centre-back Adrian Mariappa to their ranks as Dean Holden boosts his defensive options.
Mariappa, 34, adds Premier League and international experience in a career which has seen the defender represent Watford twice, Reading and Crystal Palace.
He joins the Robins as a free agent until January after leaving Vicarage Road at the end of last season when the Hornets were relegated from the top flight.
City Chief Executive Officer Mark Ashton said: “I am thrilled that the club has been able to secure a player of Adrian Mariappa’s quality and experience.
“I am confident he will help Dean, his staff and players kick on after what has been a very good start to the campaign and our supporters should be excited to see him in a Bristol City shirt after the international break.”
City Head Coach Holden said: “We’ve done our due diligence and received some fantastic character references and that’s really important for me. He is a fantastic professional who is reliable, and he can certainly help the guys around him.
“When we spoke I could hear his hunger to come here, continue his career and achieve something special at this football club.”
Mariappa started his career at Vicarage Road, and he joined the Watford first team during the 2005/06 season. He made his professional debut in a 3-1 win against Notts County in the Carling Cup, before going to make 247 appearances for Watford between 2005-2012. He was part of the Championship promotion-winning side at the end of his first season.
In 2012 Mariappa joined Reading and he made his international debut with Jamaica. The defender, who can also play right-back, has made 49 appearances for the Reggae Boyz, whom he has captained on seven occasions and scored one goal.
His spell at Reading lasted two seasons before he signed for Crystal Palace in the Premier League. He spent each of his three seasons in the top flight with the Eagles and he was an Emirates FA Cup runner-up at the end of his final year in 2015/16.
That summer he would re-join Watford where he continued with another four seasons in the Premier League. Again, he reached the FA Cup final where the Hornets were beaten by Manchester City at Wembley at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
Mariappa now links up with the City squad as preparations continue for the visit of Derby County next Saturday (November 21st, 3pm KO – exclusively live on Robins TV with a £10 matchday pass.
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