Speaking at his unveiling by the club,Irvine made it clear he was a kindred spirit.

“My other big passion away from football is definitely music it plays a big part of my life. I am definitely no expert with a guitar but it comes with me everywhere I go. I love listening to vinyl and going to gigs,” he said.

More importantly,the strong ideals of the club and its supporter base were music to his ears. Irvine is vocal about social matters and civil rights,notably taking strong stances against racism. When his contract finished with Scottish club Hibernian last month,Irvine could have spent the off-season fielding offers from Europe,Asia,the Middle East or even in Australia. Plenty more could have been more lucrative than what a German second-division team could offer,but the Socceroo said none would have been a better fit for what he stands for.

“I know all about the political and social values that the club holds dear,and that aligns perfectly with who I am as a person and how I see football. I feel like it’s a perfect match,” Irvine said.