ADELAIDE United mastermind Rini Coolen is ecstatic to land Socceroos midfielder Dario Vidosic.

Former Liverpool ace Harry Kewell may yet grace the A-League for an exorbitant fee but Coolen has arguably secured the competition's smartest buy in 24-year-old Vidosic over a three-year deal.

"It is only possible to bring a player like him in when we can use him as an Australian marquee player," said Coolen of Vidosic, who scored three goals in 29 appearances for German Bundesliga club FC Nuremberg.

"We are thrilled to have Dario at the club. He has played at a very high level for a strong club in one of the best leagues in Europe."

Vidosic's signature as an Australian marquee player in place of Johnny Warren medallist Marcos Flores means the Reds can fit their acquisition outside the salary cap and now pursue a foreign central defender.

Coolen had been tracking homesick 185cm playmaker Vidosic "for months" and pounced with the financial blessing of club owner Rob Gerard once Argentine artisan Flores committed to Chinese Super League club Henan Jianye last month. "The club got some important money for Marcos and gave something back to the football department to make our squad as good as possible which is fantastic for the players, club and especially the fans. That is what they deserve," Coolen said.

Vidosic will wear the No.10 shirt but be used both on the left and right by Coolen who wants to wrong-foot opposition with a fluid attacking quartet headed by Serg van Dijk.

Regular game time, Coolen's pure football philosophy and blessing from Socceroos mentor Holger Osieck for a homecoming sealed Vidosic's Hindmarsh deal.

"In the end I wanted to go to a club that is playing my style of football," said former Brisbane Roar prodigy Vidosic, who had tired of a four-year stint in dour German club football.

"I like to attack, I like the ball at my feet and I like to express myself, and I felt I didn't have the chance to do that (in Germany).

"I'm just really looking forward to being in Australia under a good coach with a good club."

Vidosic featured in Australia's June friendlies against New Zealand and Serbia and believes he can continue an impressive start to his international career while based in the A-League.