Charlton boss has been long-term admirer of former Fulham, Chelsea, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday centre-back

Charlton manager Dean Holden has revealed how he has been a long-term admirer of Michael Hector.

The much-travelled centre-back, who had been a free agent since leaving Fulham last summer, was one of the Addicks’ deadline day arrivals last week.

Hector, 30, was part of Marco Silva’s title-winning Whites squad last season as they powered to the Championship title.

The defender has played in the Premier League, Bundesliga and Scottish top flight. Previous clubs include Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull City, Aberdeen and Eintracht Frankfurt.

Hector had been training with Sheffield Wednesday not long before signing for Charlton on a deal until the end of the season.

Chelsea reportedly paid £4million when they snapped him up from Reading on a five-year deal in September 2015.

“The first part (of signing him) is that he’s a top player,” Holden told the South London Press. “He’s proved it through his career, at different levels, that he’s a top player. He’s a player I looked at previously in other roles and not been able to get him.

“When we were aware he was available, we obviously moved pretty quickly. There was other interest in him. In fact he was due, potentially, to be somewhere else. We acted quickly. I spoke to him personally. I invited him in. He came in and trained on Monday morning and it happened very quickly after that.

“Top players are top professionals. He knows what is expected of him, in terms of the standards he is coming in to set and to push the culture of the club. These guys know what it takes to operate at a high level and to get promoted. On a daily basis they will be driving standards, it’s as simple as that.”

PICTURE: KEITH GILLARD