Australian guidelines soccer and rugby league are Australia’s hottest spectator sports activities, however soccer comes subsequent and is rising on a regular basis Down Beneath.
In 2004, the A League was launched to switch the previous NSL and at the moment options 13 groups, together with two from New Zealand.
Since its inception, the competitors has welcomed no less than one marquee participant per season and extra lately.
Here’s a take a look at among the most well-known footballers from the boys’s sport to have performed in Australia…
32. Michael Mifsud
With 143 caps and 42 targets for Malta, Michael Mifsud is each the nation’s report look holder and prime scorer.
The previous Coventry Metropolis and Kaiserslautern striker spent a season with A-League facet Melbourne Coronary heart in 2013/14, however scored simply as soon as in 14 video games throughout his time in Australia.
31. Wes Hoolahan
Wes Hoolahan revamped 350 appearances for Norwich Metropolis in a decade at Carrow Highway between 2008 and 2018 and gained 43 caps for the Republic of Eire.
The perfect options, enjoyable and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox each week.
The attacking midfielder signed a one-year take care of Newcastle Jets in August 2019, however was unable to make his debut till the next February because of an ankle damage and finally made solely 5 appearances for the A-League facet.
30. Jack Rodwell
Jack Rodwell began his profession at Everton and went on to play for Manchester Metropolis, Sunderland, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United earlier than shifting to Australia in 2021.
The previous England worldwide spent a season at Western Sydney Wanderers. He was named within the A-League All-Star group in 2022 and moved throughout city to Sydney FC for 2 extra years till his departure in Could 2024.
29. Alessandro Diamanti
Alessandro Diamanti gained 17 caps for Italy between 2010 and 2013 and performed for the likes of Brescia, Bologna, Fiorentina and West Ham in a profession spanning nearly 25 years.
The final 4 of these have been spent at A-League facet Western United, the place he made 83 appearances and scored 11 targets earlier than hanging up his boots shortly earlier than his fortieth birthday in 2023. An A-League champion in 2022, Diamanti moved into teaching with Western United’s crosstown rivals Melbourne Metropolis after his retirement.
28. Panagiotis Kone
Panagiotis Kone performed in Italy with Brescia and Bologna and earned a repute for scoring spectacular targets throughout his time in Serie A.
Capped 28 occasions by Greece between 2010 and 2015, the midfielder arrived as a marquee signing for Western United in a two-year deal within the membership’s inaugural A-League season in 2019 however left after only one yr on the Australian facet, having scored twice in 15 video games.
27. Beñat Etxebarria
Beñat Etxebarria performed over 240 video games for Athletic Membership in seven seasons on the Basque outfit between 2013 and 2020, having beforehand impressed in a three-year spell at Actual Betis.
Capped 4 occasions by Spain, the midfielder completed his profession at Macarthur in 2020/21 and made 24 appearances for the A-League facet, scoring as soon as.
26. Joe Ledley
Joe Ledley gained 77 caps for Wales between 2005 and 2018 and performed in all six video games because the Dragons reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016.
The previous Cardiff Metropolis, Celtic and Crystal Palace centre-back joined A-League facet Newcastle Jets till the top of the season after his one-month contract with Charlton Athletic expired in February 2020 and remained with the Australian membership till August as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. He performed simply six occasions for the Jets.
25. Aaron Hughes
Aaron Hughes gained 112 caps for Northern Eire in a 20-year worldwide profession and is finest remembered for lengthy spells at Newcastle and Fulham within the Premier League.
After restricted taking part in time within the Championship with Brighton in 2014/15, the defender joined A-League facet Melbourne Metropolis in the summertime. Hughes performed solely six video games in Australia, scoring one aim, and was launched in April 2016.
24. Benito Carbone
Benito Carbone spent most of his profession in Italy and England however by no means appeared to remain very lengthy at any of his golf equipment and was by no means capped by the Azzurri – regardless of his distinctive expertise.
Amongst his many golf equipment, the previous Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa and Inter ahead had a brief spell in Australia on mortgage with Sydney FC. The Italian signed a four-game visitor deal and impressed initially, however pulled his hamstring in his third look and was not supplied a contract. Carbone scored two targets for the A-League membership.
23. Siem de Jong
Born in Switzerland to Dutch mother and father, Siem de Jong performed as an attacking midfielder or as a ahead and is finest remembered for spells at Ajax, PSV and Newcastle.
The previous Netherlands worldwide, who’s the older brother of Luuk de Jong, spent a season on mortgage at Sydney FC from Ajax and helped the membership win the A-League title in 2018/19 with six targets in 17 video games.
22. Daniel Sturridge
Daniel Sturridge scored eight targets in 26 caps for England and is finest remembered for spells at Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis.
Sturridge signed for Perth Glory in October 2021 and the membership’s proprietor Tony Sage described the deal as one of many largest in A-League historical past. Nevertheless, the striker would go on to make simply six appearances and just one begin and left the next June with out scoring a single aim.
21. Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel scored targets at an unbelievable fee throughout his time in Portugal, hitting 169 in 175 video games for Porto and 67 in 60 appearances for Sporting CP.
However the Brazil ahead declined because of accidents and a lack of kind from 2002 onwards and went on to play for a sequence of smaller sides in the direction of the top of his profession. That included a spell in Australia with Newcastle Jets, however he did not internet in 11 video games and was already again in his homeland by the point the membership claimed the title in February 2008.
20. Pablo Contreras
Pablo Contreras gained 67 caps for Chile in a 13-year worldwide profession between 1999 and 2012 and the centre-back performed in Spain, France, Portugal and Greece in a well-travelled profession.
Contreras spent his ultimate season as a participant in Australia, signing for Melbourne Victory in 2013 and retiring after an A-League semi-final loss in opposition to Brisbane Roar, regardless of hypothesis he would possibly keep it up for another yr.
19. Morgan Schneiderlin
Morgan Schneiderlin spent 12 years within the Premier League with Southampton, Manchester United and Everton between 2008 and 2020.
Capped 15 occasions by France, the defensive midfielder returned to his homeland with Good in 2020, however later joined A-League facet Western Sydney Wanderers on mortgage in 2023. He performed 12 video games and scored two targets throughout his time in Australia and retired on the finish of the 2022/23 season.
18. Tomer Hemed
Tomer Hemed helped Brighton to the Premier League in a three-year spell on the south coast, having beforehand performed in Spain with Mallorca and Almeria.
After leaving Brighton, the previous Israeli worldwide had transient stints at QPR and Charlton, earlier than shifting to the A-League. The ahead spent one season with New Zealand’s Wellington Phoenix and one other at Western Sydney Wanderers, scoring 17 targets in 41 appearances mixed.
17. Valon Berisha
Valon Berisha was born in Sweden however grew up in Norway and represented the Norwegian nationwide group till switching allegiance to play for Kosovo in 2016.
At membership stage, the midfielder has performed in Norway, Italy, Germany, Austria and France. He additionally had a season on mortgage with Melbourne Metropolis. Berisha made 27 appearances and scored as soon as as Metropolis topped the A-League to win the Premiership title, however misplaced the Grand Remaining to Central Coast Mariners.
16. Ola Toivonen
Ola Toivonen gained 64 caps for Sweden and scored 14 targets for the Scandinavian nation between 2007 and 2018.
Prime scorer as Sweden’s Beneath-21 facet completed third on the European Championship in 2009, the ahead final appeared for his nation on the 2018 World Cup, when he scored in opposition to Germany. The previous PSV and Rennes participant signed for A-League facet Melbourne Victory that summer season and spent two seasons in Australia, scoring a powerful 28 targets in 44 appearances total.
15. Marc Janko
Marc Janko netted 28 targets in 70 appearances for Austria and is among the prime scorers within the nation’s historical past.
At membership stage, Janko performed in Portugal, the Netherlands, Turkey, Switzerland and the Czech Republic. He additionally had a spell in Australia with Sydney FC in 2014/15 and scored 16 targets in 25 appearances for the A-League membership.
14. Shinji Ono
Shinji Ono gained over 50 caps for Japan between 1998 and 2008 and had spells in European soccer with Feyenoord and Bochum.
A part of Feyenoord’s UEFA Cup-winning facet in 2001/02, Ono later spent two seasons in Australia with Western Sydney Wanderers. The A-League facet had thought of signing former Germany midfielder Michael Ballack, however introduced in Ono as a substitute. He helped Wanderers prime the A-League and win the Premiership title after the league section, however the Sydney facet misplaced the Grand Remaining to Central Coast Mariners in his final sport.
13. Emile Heskey
Keep in mind when Emile Heskey performed for Newcastle? You won’t, however he did. Australian A-League facet Newcastle Jets, that’s. Not Newcastle United.
The previous Leicester, Liverpool and England striker signed for the Jets in 2012 after leaving Aston Villa. He spent two seasons with the A-League outfit, scoring 10 targets in 42 video games earlier than returning to England with Bolton Wanderers.
12. Juninho
Juninho gained the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 and made nearly 50 appearances for his nationwide group in whole.
In the direction of the top of his profession, the previous Middlesbrough favorite had a brief spell in Australia with Sydney FC, however managed solely 14 appearances in an injury-interrupted marketing campaign and was not supplied a brand new contract after a sole season on the A-League membership.
11. Damien Duff
Damien Duff gained 100 caps for the Republic of Eire between 1998 and 2012 and completed his profession again in his homeland in a brief spell with Shamrock Rovers.
Earlier than his return to Eire, the previous Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Newcastle and Fulham winger spent a season in Australia with Melbourne Metropolis, scoring as soon as in 16 appearances total.
10. Thomas Sørensen
Thomas Sørensen made 101 appearances for Denmark between 1999 and 2012 and the previous goalkeeper spent a lot of his profession within the Premier League.
After lengthy spells at Sunderland, Aston Villa and Stoke Metropolis, the Danish goalkeeper joined Melbourne Metropolis in 2015 and completed his profession in Australia, taking part in 40 video games throughout two seasons earlier than hanging up his boots on the age of 41.
9. Luis García
Typically popping up with vital targets and serving to Liverpool to the Champions League title in 2005, Luis Garcia is fondly remembered by Reds followers for his three-year spell at Anfield.
The previous Barcelona and Atletico Madrid winger got here out of retirement later in his profession to play in India after which in Australia, the place he featured in 10 video games and scored two targets in a brief spell at A-League facet Central Coast Mariners earlier than hanging up his boots for good on the age of just about 38.
8. Keisuke Honda
After a spell at Mexican facet Pachuca in 2017/18, Keisuke Honda spent a season at A-League outfit Melbourne Victory in 2018/19.
The legendary Japanese attacking midfielder scored eight targets in his 22 appearances for the Melbourne membership, however left on the finish of the marketing campaign to hitch Dutch facet Vitesse.
7. Nani
Nani signed a two-year contract with A-League facet Melbourne Victory in July 2022 and made his debut from the bench in opposition to former membership Manchester United in a pleasant only a few days later.
The previous Portugal winger and Euro 2016 winner ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in an unintended conflict with Brisbane Roar’s Connor Chapman in January 2023 and his contract was terminated by mutual consent on the finish of the season. He made simply 11 official appearances for Victory and did not rating a aim throughout his time in Australia.
6. William Gallas
Unusually, William Gallas performed for London rivals Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham between 2001 and 2013 – and the centre-back gained over 80 caps for France.
After leaving Spurs on the finish of the 2012/13 season, Gallas signed a one-year take care of Australian membership Perth Glory. He grew to become the primary Frenchman to play within the A-League, however retired from skilled soccer on the finish of the marketing campaign, having made 14 appearances and scored one aim.
5. Robbie Fowler
Robbie Fowler performed for 2 A-League sides in the direction of the top of his profession and the Liverpool legend later returned to Australia as coach of Brisbane Roar.
The previous England striker spent one season at North Queensland Fury in 2009/10 and one other at Perth Glory in 2010/11. He scored 18 targets in 54 appearances throughout these two spells. Fowler coached Brisbane Roar within the 2019/20 season, however left the A-League membership through the Covid-19 pandemic to be along with his household.
4. Dwight Yorke
5 out of six of Dwight Yorke’s skilled golf equipment have been English: Aston Villa, Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham Metropolis and Sunderland.
The opposite one was Sydney FC, the place the previous Trinidad and Tobago ahead spent simply over a season between 2005 and 2006, scoring eight targets in 24 appearances total. Typically working in midfield, he arrange the one aim as Sydney FC gained the A-League Grand Remaining. He left that summer season for Sunderland, however later returned to Australia as coach of A-League facet Macarthur FC in 2022.
3. Romário
Romário’s well-travelled profession took him to the Netherlands, Spain, Qatar and Miami, together with plenty of golf equipment in his homeland.
The legendary Brazil ahead and 1994 World Cup winner additionally spent a brief spell on mortgage with A-League facet Adelaide United in a five-game visitor stint from Miami FC in 1996. He performed 4 fixtures ultimately, scoring only one aim.
2. David Villa
After leaving Atletico Madrid in the summertime of 2014, it was introduced that David Villa would be part of newly shaped New York Metropolis for the 2015 season.
However with MLS not because of begin for an additional six months, it was additionally introduced that the previous Barcelona and Valencia striker would be part of one other membership affiliated with Manchester Metropolis, A-League facet Melbourne Metropolis, on mortgage. The association would see the World Cup-winning ahead function for as much as 10 video games. Ultimately, although, he solely performed in 4 and scored twice. Melbourne Metropolis did not win any of these, however it’s estimated that Spain’s all-time prime scorer boosted attendances by round 3 times and coach John van ‘t Schip credited him with bringing consideration to the membership.
1. Alessandro Del Piero
A World Cup winner with Italy and a legend at Juventus, the place he spent 19 seasons and scored 290 targets in 705 appearances, Alessandro Del Piero moved to Australia after leaving the Bianconeri in 2012.
Del Piero joined Sydney FC in September 2012 in an enormous coup for Australian soccer. He stayed for 2 seasons and scored 24 targets in 48 appearances total – together with 4 in a 7-1 win over Wellington Phoenix in January 2013.
