The Australian league’s Player of the Year has signed a four-year deal with the 2007 Budesliga title-winners who are currently sitting mid-table in the league with two games left in the season.
“Marco has just been voted player of the year in Australia but that’s not the only reason we noticed him,” Stuttgart head of sports Fredi Bobic said.
“He is a player that is well used to the attacking wide positions and provides speed. It will be interesting to see how quickly he can get used to the pace in Germany.”
After a difficult first season at Victory, which he joined from New Zealand-based A-League club Wellington Phoenix, Rojas came into his own under the tutelage of coach Ange Postecoglou in his second season scoring 15 goals and providing nine assists.
His form attracted plenty of attention with several European heavyweights, such as Liverpool and Juventus, rumoured to be interested in the 21-year-old, dubbed “Kiwi Messi” in the Australian media.
However the young New Zealand international played down those rumours throughout the 2012/13 season before heading to Germany last week to complete the medical and sign off on the long-term deal.
“My dad and I spoke to the responsible parties at VFB and they gave us the impression that they really wanted me here,” Rojas said.
“It’s great for a player when a club shows just how much they want you. I am really looking forward to my time here. It’ll certainly be a big challenge.”
The move means Rojas will soon be encountering sides like UEFA Champions League finalists Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich and while many would be in awe of such an opportunity, the Hamilton-born attacker is looking forward to the task that awaits him in the 50,000-capacity Mercedes-Benz Arena.
“I attended the game against Furth and the atmosphere in the stadium is impressive. It’s very exciting that I can see that on the field,” Rojas says.
“I’m used to the Australian league crowds, so to see 50,000 spectators is of course something special. I don’t want to say too much. At the moment, I just want to get prepared for the new season and then hopefully prove myself.”
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