Daniel Bowles

Not known for his goal-scoring abilities, defender Daniel Bowles will forever hold the bragging rights to Gold Coast United’s last ever goal. 

The Australian right-back opened the scoring with an accomplished finish to give his side the lead against Brisbane Roar on the final day of the regular season in 2012. United still went on to lose that game, however, after a last minute winner from Brisbane’s George Lambadaridis.

Bowles then moved to Adelaide, where he spent two years, before joining Roar at the start of the 2014/15 season.

On his debut, Bowles helped Brisbane record a resounding 4-0 victory over Newcastle Jets and he quickly became an important member of the first team squad.

However, a serious knee injury sustained against Melbourne City last month has ruled the defender out for the rest of the season and it’s unclear when he’ll return. 

Michael Thwaite

Former Australian international Michael Thwaite is currently without a club after making 183 A-League appearances over an eight year period.

Born in Brisbane, Thwaite made his A-League debut for Melbourne Victory at the age of 25, after signing for the Australian side on a season-long loan from Norwegian outfit SK Brann.

Thwaite signed permanently for Gold Coast United in 2009 and instantly became a pivotal defensive figure, as United recorded back-to-back top four finishes in the league.

Both times Thwaite was named Gold Coast’s player of the season and his performances earned him 13 caps for the national side - the last of which came in 2013.

After Gold Coast’s disappearance, Thwaite spent four successful years at Perth Glory before signing for Chinese Super League side Liaoning FC in 2016.

He was released earlier this year along with Australian compatriot Dario Vidošić.

Adama Traoré

The pacey wide man is currently on course for his third successive league title with Swiss powerhouses Basel.

Traore played 67 times for Gold Coast United between 2009 and 2012 after arriving from his native country Ivory Coast - who he has five international caps for.

He stayed in Australia after Gold Coast’s demise, spending two fruitful years at Melbourne Victory, where he was awarded the club’s player of the year after the 2013/14 campaign.

That wasn’t enough to keep Traoré at Victory, though, as the Ivorian was quickly snapped up by Vitória de Guimarães in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.

Now 27, Traore has continued to improve at Basel, who he joined in 2015. The Swiss giants are 16 points clear at the top of the league and are comfortably on track for their eighth consecutive title – Traore’s third.