The arrival of Kostas Katsouranis for Heidelberg’s 2015 Westfield FFA Cup quarter final against Melbourne City raises the question – who in terms of their national team record is the greatest star to play an official match for an Australian club?
GALLERY: The 10 greatest internationals for Aussie clubs
Katsouranis has played well over a century of matches for the Greek national team, including triumph at the 2004 European Championship where Greece knocked over hosts Portugal 1-0 in the final.
In terms of national team honours, not many Australian club players – past or present – can claim an international record like this.
Here are ten of the most internationally-honoured imports or guest players to play for Australian clubs, with the criteria being: more than 40 men’s national team appearances in A internationals, continental championship honours for a major FIFA confederation or a top four placing at a FIFA World Cup, and no more than one player per country.
While some of their Australian club stints were short, with varied success, they nonetheless make for a stunning collection of national team talent to have graced Australian fields.
KOSTAS KATSOURANIS, Greece (Heidelberg 2015)
116 national team games, won 2004 UEFA European Championship (1-0 v Portugal).
BOBBY CHARLTON, England (Newcastle KB 1978, Blacktown City 1980)
106 national team games, won 1966 FIFA World Cup (4-2 v West Germany).
THOMAS SORENSON, Denmark (Melbourne City 2015–)
101 national team games, part of Denmark’s UEFA Euro 2000, 2004 and FIFA World Cup 2002, 2010 squads.
DAVID VILLA, Spain (Melbourne City 2014)
97 national team games, won 2010 FIFA World Cup (1-0 v Netherlands).
ALESSANDRO DEL PIERO, Italy (Sydney FC 2012–14)
91 national team games, won 2006 FIFA World Cup (1-1, won on penalties v France).
KAZU MIURA, Japan (Sydney FC 2005)
89 national team games, won 1992 AFC Asian Cup (1-0 v Saudi Arabia).
WILLIAM GALLAS, France (Perth Glory 2013–14)
84 national team games, 2006 FIFA World Cup final finalist (1-1, lost on penalties v Italy).
ROMARIO, Brazil (Adelaide United 2006)
70 national team games, won 1994 FIFA World Cup (0-0, won on penalties v Italy).
ALJOSA ASANOVIC, Croatia (Sydney United 2001)
62 national team games (plus 3 games for Yugoslavia), 1998 FIFA World Cup semi-finalist (lost 1-2 v France).
OSSIE ARDILES, Argentina (St George 1985)
53 national team games, won 1978 FIFA World Cup (3-1 v Netherlands).
Mention also goes to players from eleven other countries, who may not have claimed continental championship or World Cup glory, but boast vast international experience:
– DAMIAN DUFF, Ireland (100 national team games / played for Melbourne City 2014–15)
– AARON HUGHES, Northern Ireland (96 national team games not out / Melbourne City 2015–)
– IAN RUSH, Wales (73 national team games / Sydney Olympic 1999)
– DWIGHT YORKE, Trinidad and Tobago (72 national team games / Sydney FC 2005–06)
– ROBERT KOREN, Slovenia (61 national team games / Melbourne City 2014–15)
– GRAEME SOUNESS, Scotland (54 national team games / West Adelaide 1977)
– PAN-KEUN KIM, South Korea (51 national team games / Marconi 1997–2001)
– ELI OHANA, Israel (51 national team games / Sydney City 1986)
– MARC JANKO, Austria (49 national team games not out / Sydney FC 2014–15)
– SAMSON SIASIA, Nigeria (49 national team games / Perth Glory 1997–98)
– WASHINGTON GONZALEZ, Uruguay (32 national team games / Parramatta Eagles 1989–91)
In terms of international experience of squads, has a men’s club football match in Australia ever seen the likes of Heidelberg’s Kostas Katsouranis and Melbourne City’s Aaron Hughes squaring off, like in the 2015 Westfield FFA Cup quarter final at Olympic Village?
And while no Australian club player has played more international matches for his country, is Greek legend Katsouranis the most internationally-decorated men’s player to play for an Australian club? He must be close.
Follow Andrew Howe’s Aussie football stats updates on Twitter @AndyHowe_statto
