The best foreigners to play in the Isuzu UTE A-League: Part Two

Part two of KEEPUP’s series taking a look at the best international signings in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League continues, with a host of arguably, some of the greatest foreigners to ply their trade down under.

READ PART ONE OF THE BEST FOREIGNERS TO PLAY IN THE ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE: ARGENTINA-GEORGIA

* Players who have represented a different country to their birth are eligible for this list.

Germany

Have there been many, or indeed any, better players in the history of the competition than Thomas Broich? Probably not.

Broich had been a rising star in Germany for a number of Bundesliga sides including Borussia Monchengladbach and FC Koln.

But disillusioned after an injury-riddled time at Nurnberg, Broich was in search of a fresh challenge and accepted Ange Postecoglou’s offer to sign a three-year deal with the Brisbane Roar in 2010.

Broich’s impact was immediate, slotting into Postecoglou’s side seamlessly and inspiring the “Roarcelona” brand of football.

Broich played a starring role in all three of the Roar’s Championship winning sides, getting assists in both the 2011 and 2012 Grand Finals along with winning the Joe Marston Medal in the 2014 showpiece.

Assists were Broich’s best asset throughout his tenure at the Roar, providing immense service to the likes of Besart Berisha and Jamie Maclaren.

Overall, he accumulated a grand total of 50 assists.

Thomas Broich

Clubs: Brisbane Roar
Games: 181
Goals: 21

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2010-11 Premiership/Championship (Roar)
2011-12 Championship (Roar)
2011-12 Johnny Warren Medal
2013-14 Premiership/Championship (Roar)
2013-14 Johnny Warren Medal
2014 Joe Marston Medal
A-League Men All Stars (2013, 2014)
PFA Team of the Decade (2005-2015)

Indonesia

An early entry in the pantheon of great strikers in the history of the Isuzu UTE A-League is Sergio Van Dijk – prolific during his four years down under.

The Dutch-born Indonesian international was a menace inside the penalty area at both Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United scoring double digits in the first three of his four seasons down under.

Van Dijk particularly took off at the Reds in the 2010-11 season, scoring 16 goals en route to winning the Golden Boot that season – helping his team to a third-place finish before being bundled out of the finals by Gold Coast United.

After departing the club in 2013, Van Dijk returned to Adelaide for a short spell in their 2016 Asian Champions League campaign – playing only once as a substitute.

Sergio Van Dijk

Clubs: Brisbane Roar, Adelaide United
Games: 105
Goals: 50

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2010-11 Golden Boot

Ireland

There have been a bucket-load of top quality Irish players to grace the Isuzu UTE A-League over the journey.

From Jay O’Shea, to Liam Miller, to Roy O’Donovan, the list goes on. It’s hard, though, to go past the feats of Andy Keogh.

After many seasons playing all over England for the likes of Wolves, Millwall and Leeds United, Keogh made the move to Perth Glory in 2014. The Irish striker’s first season was brilliant, scoring 12 goals and helping Perth to a surge up the table.

However, the Glory, who finished equal-second with Sydney FC, were disqualified from the finals series due to breaching the salary cap and Keogh exited the club before returning the following season.

Keogh stuck around for the next three seasons and helped Perth to the 2019 Premiership under Tony Popovic – scoring 15 goals that campaign – before again departing and returning for a third stint in 2020.

Now retired as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer in Isuzu UTE A-League history, Keogh is making an impact behind the scenes as the Glory’s head of recruitment.

Andy Keogh

Clubs: Perth Glory
Games: 156
Goals: 59

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2018-19 Premiership (Glory)
Glory all-time leading A-League Men goalscorer

Honourable mentions

Jay O’Shea (Brisbane Roar)
Roy O’Donovan (Central Coast Mariners, Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar)
Liam Miller (Brisbane Roar, Perth Glory, Melbourne City)

Italy

Two Alessandros, two Italian internationals, two massive impacts.

The Isuzu UTE A-League has been blessed with the presence of two Italian superstars throughout the journey. First, there was Alessandro Del Piero. The Juventus legend made the highly-anticipated move to Sydney FC from the Bianconeri in 2012 to much fanfare – as one of the biggest names in world football landed in Australia.

Del Piero’s arrival saw thousands flock to stadiums to watch him in action, famously scoring an unbelievable free-kick on his home debut against Newcastle Jets and another 23 goals to follow in the next two seasons.

Despite being at the latter stages of his career, the 2006 World Cup winner with the Azzurri was still a class above most and his natural skill never wavered.

Then came Alessandro Diamanti.

The Italian dynamo arrived at Western United in 2019 as one of their inaugural signings and immediately took the competition by storm. In his first season, he won the Johnny Warren Medal, helping United to the semi-finals after the Covid restart.

His quirky personality made him a popular figure among the Australian football fanbase, as fans got an insight into his personal life through his Instagram stories, walks on ‘Alino’s Bridge’ and talks about positive vibes.

Unfortunately, two seasons later, a knee injury meant Diamanti missed the run to United’s Championship in 2022 but his impact behind the scenes was equally enormous as a leader.

Since then he’s returned, playing more of a bit-part role as an impact substitute – but the class hasn’t wavered, reminding everyone of his ability with his incredible winner against Wellington Phoenix earlier this season.

To use a ‘Diamanti-ism’, his impact on and off the field has a ‘fifty-fifty’ split.

Alessandro Del Piero

Clubs: Sydney FC
Games: 48
Goals: 24

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2013 PFA Team of the Season
PFA Team of the Decade (2005-2015)
Sydney FC Team of the Decade (2005-2015)
Sydney FC Hall of Fame (2015)

Alessandro Diamanti

Clubs: Western United
Games: 69
Goals: 10

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2019-20 PFA Team of the Season
2020 Johnny Warren Medal
2021-22 Champion (Western)

Japan

Shinji Ono or Michael Ballack?

They were the two potential marquees on Western Sydney’s radar ahead of their inaugural campaign in 2012-13; the Wanderers elected to sign Ono over the former Germany captain, and despite early criticism were vindicated by the Japanese midfielder’s superb contribution in red and black.

The club announced the capture of Ono’s signature in late September of 2012. Ballack announced his retirement in early October. Ono went on to star for the Wanderers in his maiden campaign, en route to securing the Premiers Plate.

Ono will forever be one of the great marquees in Isuzu UTE A-League history, and a glowing endorsement for clubs around the league to pursue top-shelf talent in the Asian Football Confederation.

Shinji Ono

Clubs: Western Sydney Wanderers
League games: 51
League goals: 10

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2012-13 Premiership (Western Sydney)

Honourable mentions

Hiroshi Ibusuki (Adelaide United)
Tomoki Imai (Western United)

Korea

“If Byun – who has never scored for Sydney in normal play – tucks this away, the championship is heading to the harbour city.”

The name Byun Sung-Hwan is forever written into Sydney FC folklore after his role in the penalty shootout which decided the 2009-10 Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final.

Commentator Simon Hill was on hand at Marvel Stadium to call the action, in a moment which immortalised the Korean.

“It’s all on Byun, and all on Langerak for Melbourne Victory…

“Byun scores! Sydney FC are the Champions!”

Byun Sung-Hwan

Clubs: Sydney FC, Newcastle Jets
League games: 83
League goals: 2

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2009/10 Premiership/Championship double (Sydney FC)

Kosovo

One of the iconic names in A-League Men history, Besart Berisha retired in early 2022 as the competition’s all-time top scorer – with 142 goals in 236 geames – and four championships to his name earned at both Brisbane Roar (two) and Melbourne Victory (two).

A player born for the big occasion, Berisha will not only go down as one of the greatest imports to grace the Isuzu UTE A-League, but one of the competition’s best players of all time.

Besart Berisha

Clubs: Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory, Western United
League games: 236
League goals: 142

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2011-12 Championship (Roar)
2011-12 Golden Boot (Roar)
2013-14 Premiership/Championship double (Roar)
A-League All Star 2013, 2014
A-League Men Team of the Decade (2005-2015)
2014-15 Premiership/Championship (Victory)
2015-16 Golden Boot (VIctory)
2016-17 Golden Boot ( Victory)
2017/18 Championship (Victory)
A-League Men Team of the Season (2011-12, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2019-20)

Mexico

“He’s the best player in the league by a mile.”

High praise from Macarthur FC head coach Dwight Yorke of his captain Ulises Davila, in the aftermath of a typically brilliant display from the Mexican attacking midfielder against Newcastle Jets in early January.

“He’s a wonderful player and a wonderful guy and I’m so blessed to have such a fantastic footballer. He’s a unique individual.”

Davila is a favourite among fans of both Macarthur and neutrals alike. His stylish approach to the game makes for entertaining viewing whenever he steps onto the park, and has done ever since his arrival at Wellington Phoenix in 2019-20. A Johnny Warren Medallist, a leader, a goalscoring midfield technician, and the best Mexican player to grace the Isuzu UTE A-League throughout the competition’s history.

Ulises Davila

Clubs: Wellington Phoenix, Macarthur FC
League games: 81
League goals: 28

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

A-League Men Team of the Season: 2019-20, 2020-21, 2021-22
2020-21 Johnny Warren Medal
2020-21 PFA Footballer of the Year

Netherlands

One and done for Leroy George.

The Dutchman came and went in a flash, but left a special mark on the Isuzu UTE A-League in the 2017-18 campaign at Melbourne Victory. George earned a place in the PFA Team of the Season as Victory stormed from fourth to clinch the championship; his pace and trickery got bums on seats at AAMI Park; with a wand of a left peg, for one brilliant campaign George was one of the most watchable players in the league.

But before George stepped foot in the competition, there was another Dutchman tearing it up weekly for the Central Coast Mariners.

Patrick Zwaanswijk was a force in the heart of the Central Coast back-line throughout his three season stint in Gosford. In his second season, the former NAC Breda and Utrecht defender helped the Mariners to the Premiership.

His defining moment came in his final A-League Men’s appearance, scoring the opening goal of the 2013 Grand Final, helping Central Coast to their first ever Championship.

Leroy George

Clubs: Melbourne Victory
League games: 29
Goals: 9

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2017-18 Championship (Melbourne Victory)

Patrick Zwaanswijk

Clubs: Central Coast Mariners
League games: 87
Goals: 11

Isuzu UTE A-League honours

2011/12 A-League Premiership (Mariners)
2012/13 A-League Championship (Mariners)
2011/12 PFA A-League Team of the Year
PFA A-League Team of the Decade (2005-15)

Honourable mentions:

Youssouf Hersi (Western Sydney)
Jordy Buijs (Sydney FC)

North Macedonia

Winning the Joe Marston Medal as best afield in a losing Grand Final for Melbourne Victory was a highlight in a nomadic career for Daniel Georgievski which took the Australian-born North Macedonia full-back to four clubs here, garnering a pair of Isuzu UTE A-League Premierships at Victory and Melbourne City along with the 2014-15 Championship at Victory.

Daniel Georgievski