Whatever your opinion on the A-League imports, they’ve definitely made the game more interesting. Say hello to our top 20 of all-time

20 Malik Buari
New Zealand Knights, 2006-07
From: Fulham, England

Success 1
Importance 1.5
Brand value 3
Terrace favour 1.5
Longevity 2

After a dismal first campaign that bore just one win, the New Zealand Knights entered A-League season two on notice, and welcomed reigning Premiers Adelaide to Auckland in round two. With the game locked at 0-0 with two minutes left, Buari scored a goal that remains a contender for the A-League’s greatest goal ever. He did little else that season, but my oh my, Mr. Buari, what a goal.

19 Richard Kitzbichler
Melbourne Victory, 2005-6
From Austria Wien, Austria

Success 2
Importance 1
Brand value 2
Terrace favour 2.5
Longevity 2

Austrian winger Kitzbichler bought a bundle of flair and enthusiasm to the Victory’s first season. He was also the man who scored Melbourne’s first goal at home. A five year playing/coaching deal with a former club drew him back to his homeland of Austria but he is still held in high regard by Melbourne fans and Ernie Merrick.

18 Michael Bridges
Sydney FC, 2007-08
From Hull, England

Success 2
Importance 2
Brand value 2
Terrace favour 2
Longevity 1

The one-time “next big thing” in English football came out for a short-term stint and showed admirable technical ability, highlighted by a brilliantly composed finish against Newcastle away. Still only 30, he is now scrapping for a game in the English lower leagues on loan from Premiership side Hull City.

17 Benito Carbone
Sydney FC, 2006-07
From Vicenza, Italy

Success 2
Importance 2
Brand value 3
Terrace favour 2
Longevity 0.5

The much travelled Carbone arrived at Sydney after stints at an amazing 16 previous clubs. Although he retired not long after leaving Sydney, Carbone proved he still had impeccable class during his three matches in the A-League, the highlight being the orchestrator of Sydney’s improbable 4-1 demolition of Adelaide at Hindmarsh in October 2006.
Sadly a hamstring injury prevented him from playing his final match in his four-game stint, as well as any chance of him sticking around longer term.

16 Felipe
Wellington Phoenix, 2007-08
From Hajduk Split, Croatia

Success 2
Importance 2
Brand value 3
Terrace favour 3
Longevity 2

One of the key reasons Wellington were such a joy to watch in their inaugural season, Felipe was potent, particularly early in the season 2007-08. In front of the “Cake Tin” in round
one, he helped engineer a two-goal comeback against champions Melbourne, and then scored a divine, stepover-laden solo effort to hand the Phoenix their first ever victory away to Sydney in round four. There were reports he had signed with the Gold Coast Galaxy earlier this year, so there is still hope that we have not seen the last of him yet.

15 Kazu
Sydney FC, 2005-06
From Yokohama FC, Japan

Success 2
Importance 2
Brand value 4
Terrace favour 3
Longevity 1.5

A former winner of the Asian Player of the Year Award back in 1993, as soon as Kazu arrived in Sydney Japanese media swarmed on him, building publicity that attracted recognition for Sydney FC at the Club World Championships in Japan. On the field, even at age 38, he showed he could cut it at A-League level, hauling Sydney back from 2-0 down against eventual Premiers Adelaide at Hindmarsh. After his stint at Sydney he returned to Japan, kept playing and helped get Yokohama FC promoted back into the J.League.

14 Juninho
Sydney FC, 2007-08
From Flamengo, Brazil

Success 2.5
Importance 1
Brand value 4
Terrace favour 3
Longevity 2

Though his season in Sydney was ruined by injury, Juninho proved in spurts he was perhaps the finest technical talent the A-League has ever seen. His Sydney side may have spluttered for much of the season, but his ability to find his strikers with delightfully weighted balls behind the opposition defence was uncanny. In front of Juninho, Alex Brosque started looking like the international-class striker many had always anticipated. Juninho was another one to retire after leaving Sydney.


13 Diego
Adelaide 2006-current
From Miami FC, USA

Success 3.5
Importance 3
Brand value 2.5
Terrace favour 3
Longevity 4


A slow starter, Diego came to Adelaide from Miami FC in the USA’s second football tier. Initially he seemed a capable if unspectacular ball-player, and there were doubts over his value in the rough and tumble in the A-League. Fast forward two years though and he is looking far more assured and in control. While he has yet to really take the A-League by the scruff of the neck, it was his goal that tore open Bunyodkor in the ACL semi-final. Team-mate Michael Valkanis sums Diego up nicely: “When he runs with the ball it all look so effortless. Not many players can do that. How can I say it… when I watch him, he just seems like he’s moving to music with the ball.”

12 Carlos Hernandez
Melbourne Victory 2007-current
From LD Alajuelense, Costa Rica

Success 2.5
Importance 4
Brand value 2.5
Terrace favour 3.5
Longevity 3


In describing Hernandez, Ernie Merrick says, “His passing is incredible, his ball control and ability to turn away from defenders in trouble is first class. He can control, dribble and pass with great vision, but his biggest asset is one we’re trying to get him to use more and more which is his shot, left and right foot.”

With a World Cup finals appearance on his CV and still in his prime at age 26, some Victory fans were bemused when what looked like a fat, lazy pretender pulled on the big V at the start of last season. How things have changed. Hernandez is now the key cog in the Victory’s gameplan, bringing power and panache into the space between midfield and attack. If Melbourne win the championship this year, Fred will be no more: the Victory support will know only King Carlos.

11 Milton Rodriguez
Newcastle Jets, 2006-7
From Jeonbuk, South Korea

Success 3
Importance 3
Brand value 3
Terrace favour 4
Longevity 2.5

Rodriguez was the archetype of the A-League import: he had flair, mystique, a heap of attacking potency and a trademark headband. Brought in just prior to the 2006-07 season, the Colombian had to wait for his Newcastle bow while his paperwork was processed. When his debut finally arrived, everyone knew it. In round four, Rodriguez came off the bench and dragged his team back from a 2-0 deficit with two strikes away to Sydney. If Newcastle were the entertainers in 2006/07, then Rodriguez played lead guitar.

Former team mate and striking partner Mark Bridge, recollects: “The thing that sticks out to me was the goal he scored against Melbourne. It was on a very tight angle and I think he had the space of less than half a metre between the post and keeper to put it. Milton just blasted it in that gap.”