Best ever Australian footballers

While it would be fair to say that Australia isn't renowned for producing an array of gifted footballers, the nation is home to a range of cult heroes, including many who have braced the Premier League.

With that said, we take a look at 10 of the best Australian footballers of all time.

• Harry Kewell

Born in Smithfield, Sydney, Harry Kewell made the move to Leeds United aged 15, partaking in a four week trial before accepting the club's offer to join the youth setup.

Rejecting offers from the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea, Manchester United and Barcelona, the Australian forward joined his boyhood club, Liverpool, in 2008, where he spent the best part of five years. One FA Cup and one UEFA Champions League later, Kewell left the Reds to join Turkish outfit Galatasaray.

He would reunite with his home nation in his final years, representing both Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart, separated by a year at Al-Gharafa.

• Tim Cahill

Tim Cahill was a prolific forward for both club and country, scoring 50 times in 108 appearances for Australia, including a famous volley against Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.

Cahill is primarily known for his eight-year spell with Everton, scoring 11 goals in his most impressive Premier League campaign in 2004/05.

• Mark Viduka

Mark Viduka, like Kewell, enjoyed a memorable stint at Leeds, netting 22 goals in a remarkable debut season for the club, four of which came in Leeds' unforgettable 4-3 win over Liverpool at Elland Road.

No doubt an impressive senior career that started in 1993 and concluded in 2009, but he perhaps may reflect on a lack of appearances for the the Socceroos, playing 43 times for his nation across 16 years.

• Mark Schwarzer

Mark Schwarzer ranks eighth for the most appearances in Premier League history with 514, with David James the only goalkeeper to play more Premier League games (572) than Schwarzer.

Schwarzer played most of his career matches for Middlesbrough, whilst also representing Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester in the Premier League.

• Mathew Leckie

Mathew Leckie is an attacking minded player who started his career at Australian side Bulleen Lions, but is known largely for his time in Germany, playing for Borussia Monchengladbach, FSV Frankfurt, FC Ingolstadt 04 and Hertha BSC.

In 2021, Leckie returned to Australia to play for Melbourne City, winning the A-League in three consecutive seasons upon his return.

• Mark Bresciano

Midfielder Mark Bresciano made a name for himself in Italy, becoming just the second Australian player to represent Lazio, after Paul Okon.

He played 84 times for Australia, making his debut off the bench on 1st June 2001 in a 1-0 win against France.

• Brett Emerton

After captaining the Olyroos (Australia's U23 national team) at the Sydney Olympics, Brett Emerton was rewarded with a move to Feyenoord in August 2000 for a fee of £415,000.

Despite spending just three years at the club, he was able to win his only club honour with Feyenoord, lifting the 2001/02 UEFA Cup, despite not being a member of the squad for the final due to suspension.

Following an eight-year spell at Blackburn Rovers, Emerton returned to Australia in 2011, joining Sydney FC, before retiring in 2014.

• Mile Jedinak

Mile Jedinak spent all of his last eight footballing years in the Premier League, representing Crystal Palace between 2011 and 2016, before concluding his career at Aston Villa following a three year spell.

A cult hero for the Eagles, Jedinak's 79 caps for Australia also made him the ninth-most capped player for his country.

• Mathew Ryan

Mathew Ryan, the current captain of Australia's national team, has never exceeded longer than a four year stay at a club, with this coming at Brighton between 2017 and 2021.

He has since become a back-up goalkeeper for the most part, but has recently returned to first team action with French outfit Lens.

• Lucas Neill

Lucas Neill is the second player on this list to have played for Everton, but the Toffees are just one of three Premier League sides Neill has represented, also playing for Blackburn Rovers and West Ham.

His move to West Ham from Blackburn Rovers in 2007 was considered controversial at the time, given his six year history with rivals Millwall.

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