Australia doesn’t have as many global superstars in the world of football as some of the sport’s more prominent nations. This is probably not new news to some, however, throughout the years Australia produced some extremely talented football players, who have not only succeeded in the A-League but also on the European football scene. Below, we are going to list three of Australia’s best footballers of all time.
Harry Kewell
When it comes to sheer talent, few Australian players, if any, have ever had as much potential as Harry Kewell did. Despite having a career ridden with injuries, Kewell managed to make a mark in some of the biggest clubs in Europe, and he also played a part in Australia’s most successful FIFA World Cup run to date. Without the many injuries, the odds on Kewell becoming one of the best players in the world would most likely have been very low. If you are interested in odds on football, you should visit a casino online that also offers betting opportunities.
Kewell began his senior career in a Leeds United team that impressively managed to reach the UEFA Champions League semi-final in 2000–01. When leaving Leeds a few seasons later, Kewell had offers from European giants such as Milan, Barcelona and Manchester United, but he ultimately ended up at Liverpool. After his first season with the club, Kewell’s injury problems began, and they would continue to halt his progress until his retirement in 2016. After his five-year-long spell at Liverpool, Kewell joined Turkish team Galatasaray.
During the FIFA World Cup in Germany 2006, Kewell scored the equalising goal against Croatia in the last match of the group stage, paving the way for a spot in the round of 16.
In the later stages of his career, Kewell played for the two A-League teams, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart (now Melbourne City FC).
Mark Schwarzer
For two decades, Mark Schwarzer was the calming presence between the goalposts for Australia’s national team. With 109 caps for his country, he is the player who has pulled on the Socceroo jersey the most times in the nation’s history.
Not only did Schwarzer impress on the international stage, but he is also considered to be one of the best goalkeepers who have played in the English Premier League. During his career, Schwarzer played over 500 times in the English top division. To this date, he is the only non-British player who has over 500 caps in the EPL. Schwarzer spent 11 years at Middlesbrough before moving on to playing for Fulham for five seasons. His last seasons he played for Chelsea and Leicester City.
During his final season as a professional, Schwarzer didn’t make any appearances for his Leicester City in the Premier League, but he still managed to end his long and impressive career on a high merely by being part of the Leicester team that shook the world and won the league title in 2015–16.
Schwarzer never played in the A-League, but before he went to Europe, he was a part of the Marconi Stallions in the NSL.
Tim Cahill
Tim Cahill is arguably the most prolific player to emerge from Australia. The aggressive and powerful midfielder who retired in 2019 – after a professional career that lasted over 20 years – did at times carry both his club teams and the national team, throughout his career.
Cahill first made a name for himself when he started playing for Millwall as a teenager. After over 200 appearances for Millwall, Cahill moved on to Everton, where he continued to impress. Cahill featured for Everton more than 200 times as well and scored over 50 times for the English Premier League side.
In 2006 Cahill led the national team to the round of 16 in the FIFA World Cup in Germany, and during the group stage, he scored Australia’s first-ever World Cup goals by netting two times against Japan in their opening game. For his contributions in the tournament, and to his team in the Premier League, Cahill was shortlisted for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
It was first at the end of his career that Cahill made his debut in the A-League, playing for Melbourne City.
With his successful career in club football and his over 100 appearances (only one fewer than Schwarzer) and 50 goals for his country, Tim Cahill is without a doubt one of Australia’s best football players of all time. By his side, we have Kewell, who many consider being the most talented player to ever come from Australia and Schwarzer who made himself a name as one of the game’s most consistent goalkeepers.
