Melbourne Heart FC is delighted to confirm reigning Player of the Year Clint Bolton has re-signed with the Club for the Hyundai A-League 2012/13 season.

Bolton, 36, was arguably the standout goalkeeper in the competition last season, earning selection to the PFA’s A-League Team of the Season as he produced seven clean sheets to help guide Heart to a maiden finals series.

Across a career now spanning three decades, Bolton’s consistency has seen him cement his place among the greats of Australian domestic football, recently climbing to second on the all-time national league appearance list having played 467 matches.

The former Socceroo said he is delighted to extend his stay in Melbourne as Heart ushers in a new era following the appointment of John Aloisi as Head Coach.

“I’m looking forward to the next stage of the Heart’s evolution. I really want to be a huge part of John Aloisi’s first big step as a head coach and make sure he has all the support we can give him as a playing group,” Bolton said.

“It’s important the club keeps progressing and a lot of that hard work has been done behind the scenes, but ultimately as a team, we need to keep moving forward and do better than we did last season.

“The way we bowed out of the finals in Perth will definitely act as a motivation for the entire squad to improve and I’m eagerly anticipating the challenge ahead.”

Head Coach John Aloisi said: We are excited to have Clint on board again for next season.

“Over the last 12 months, he has proven time and time again that he is without question one of the best goalkeepers in the Hyundai A-League.

“His professionalism, leadership and experience both on and off the field will be crucial to the team as we move forward and look to improve on our achievements of last season.”