After spending the last two seasons playing with AEK Athens in the Greek top flight, Vargas is the Jets' new marquee man for at least the 2017-18 campaign.

Heading into the new A-League season, the 15-time Venezuelan international has set his sites on not only lifting the Jets off the bottom of the ladder, but taking them much further.

“I’m the kind the person who likes to win things,” Vargas said speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo.

“At most of the clubs where I go I always get something like the league or the cup.

“I have all the motivation to try and do well and my goal is to fight for the league and if I have the chance to score that would be good also.

“But it is very important to win and to get three points even when you play bad.

“Of course, when you can get your three points and still play beautiful football and make the people enjoy themselves, it is perfect.”

Vargas began his career at 17 with Venezuelan club Caracas and soon moved to Belgium in 2008-09 with Club Brugge.

In his third year with Brugge Vargas finished as the league’s second top scorer but a subsequent move to Anderlecht saw him only play 23 times in three seasons due to injury.

After a short stint in Turkey Vargas moved to AEK Athens. His 11 goals in 31 games helped guide the newly promoted club to second including goals in the Olympiakos and Panathinaikos derbies.

Together with two assists in the 2-1 Greek Cup final win against Olympiakos, his debut season in Greece gave him legend status among the AEK fans.

But when AEK didn’t extend his contract beyond a second year, Vargas looked for a change and revealed the Jets weren’t the only Australian club seeking his services.

“To be honest three or four A-League clubs were interested in me two months ago and this started to get my attention, he said.

“I was waiting for something from Belgium because my wife is from there and there was a good opportunity to play there. But in the end the possibility to come to Newcastle happened so I just decided to come here.

“I like the adventure, to discover a new league, to discover the country, to discover the city. My wife and my family supported me and that’s how I made the decision.”

Vargas can play out wide or midfield but prefers the number 10 role.

And despite spending a short period of time in Newcastle, the 30-year-old said his Jets teammates had made him feel welcome.

“I’m very happy with everything,” he said. “The club are very professional. They have everything that you really need to train properly.

"There is a good mentality from the coach and from the players. Hopefully we can win titles and it’s also important to feel like a family.”

Picture: Kevin Airs