7 Best Australian Soccer Players Of All Time

Australia has produced a number of talented soccer players throughout the game’s history. Some ‘Socceroos’ have certainly excelled, outgrowing the Australian Leagues whilst making
a significant impact on Europe’s biggest competitions and even showcasing their class on the international stage.

So who are the best Australian Soccer players of all-time?

7. Archie Thompson

Across a fantastic career, forward Archie Thompson played 500 times for the likes of Belgium club Lierse, PSV Eindhoven and Melbourne Victory whilst finding the net 175 times in total.

As one of the best Australian Soccer players of all-time, Thompson represented his country on 54 occasions and scored 28 goals. His most famous feat proved to be the thirteen international goals he scored in a single World Cup qualification game versus American Samoa back in 2001.

6. Brett Emerton

Midfielder Brett Emerton is one of the best Australian Soccer players of all-time. He played for various teams including Feyenoord and English side Blackburn Rovers, scoring 47 club goals in 390 appearances.

Emerton made his full international debut in 1998, winning 95 caps and registering 20 strikes for his country with four goals during Australia’s 2004 OFC Nations Cup victory. He was also named Oceania Soccer Player of the Year for 2002.

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5. Mile Jedinak

Mile Jedinak featured most notably for English clubs Crystal Palace and Aston Villa, appearing 258 times over the course of nine seasons whilst being named PFA Player Of The Year in 2014.

Amongst the best Australian Soccer players of all-time, Jedanik won 79 caps for the national team and scored 20 times. The midfielder was also crowned Australian Soccer’s player of the year twice in both 2013 and 2014.

4. Mark Schwarzer

Mark Schwarzer is one of the best Australian Soccer players of all-time. The Goalkeeper featured for a host of German or English club sides including Dynamo Dresden, Middlesbrough and Fulham, making 625 career appearances in total. He also won the English League Cup with Middlesbrough in 2004.

Schwarzer made his international debut in 1993 and over the next decade claimed 109 caps for his country. He formed a vital part of the national team that won 2004’s OFC Nations Cup whilst being named Australian Soccer’s player of the year for both 2009 and 2010.

3. Mark Viduka

Amongst the best Australian Soccer players of all-time is dynamic forward Mark Viduka who made his international debut in 1994, playing thirteen years for the national team and scoring 11 goals in 43 appearances. In 2000, he was named Oceania Soccer Player of the Year and also awarded the Australian Sports Medal.

Viduka played 505 times most notably for Celtic, Leeds United and Middlesborough whilst scoring a total of 258 goals across his club career. He won a number of domestic honours for Melbourne Knights, Dinamo Zagreb and a Scottish League Cup with Celtic.

2. Harry Kewell

Sensational attacking midfielder Harry Kewell spent the majority of his playing career at Leeds United, Liverpool and Turkish side Galatasaray, making a total of 381 club appearances whilst scoring 90 goals. His time at Anfield was highly successful with the Reds winning the 2005 Champions League and FA Cup a year later.

Kewell is considered one of the best Australian Soccer players of all-time. He earned 58 caps for his country and scored 17 times. He was named Oceania Soccer player of the Year on three occasions, nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2001 and inducted into the Australia Soccer Hall of Fame in 2019.

1. Tim Cahill

Undoubtedly one of the best Australian Soccer players of all-time is iconic midfielder Tim Cahill. He played in England for Millwall and Everton with spells in both American and Chinese League Soccer. Cahill won the English Second Division in 2001, MLS Supporter’s Shield whilst at New York Red Bulls and the FFA Cup with Melbourne City in 2016. He also scored an impressive 171 goals in 705 club appearances.

Over the course of 108 caps, Cahill scored a record 50 goals for his national side, helping them win both the 2004 OFC Nations Cup and AFC Asian Cup in 2015. He was named Oceania Soccer Player of the Year in 2004, nominated for 2006’s Ballon d’Or and FIFA Puskas Award following his stunning long range volley versus Netherlands at the 2014 World Cup.