1. HARRY KEWELL

No player has captured our hearts like Harry Kewell. Who can forget the excitement when a baby-faced 17-year-old made both his Premiership and Socceroos debut within the space of a month? The world was at his feet.

At just 19, in front of 120,000 in the pressure cooker atmosphere of a World Cup qualifier in Tehran, he scored his first Socceroos goal and followed that with another in front of 85,000 at the MCG in the second leg. He was the teenaged saviour of Australian football.

For a nation unaccustomed with measuring itself against the very best, it was eye-opening to see Harry named the 2000 PFA Young Player of the Year, putting his name alongside greats such as Hoddle, Rush, Gasgoine, Giggs, Fowler, Beckham and Owen. Aussies really could reach the top. While other Australians had played and prospered overseas before, only Harry had the potential to be an internationally recognised superstar of the world game.

Of course a cruel run of injuries has stalled his career, but his recent Asian Cup appearances and cameos for Liverpool have shown that he still possesses the dazzling skills and speed that made him Australia’s most dangerous and exciting gamebreaker ever. Our readers agreed, with almost three out of four voters putting the 29-year-old veteran in their top five Australian players of all time.

“Synonymous with modern Australian football.” Guest

“The name everybody associates with ‘Australian soccer’.” afromanGT

“Remember when he first burst onto the scene with Leeds? We had someone who could have become the best player in the world. He fell short, but it was amazing to have someone with that potential.” Marcus, via email

“Sure he’s struggled with injuries but at his peak he was the most exciting player we’ve had.” steveb

“Football’s about those moments of magic, and we’ve never had anyone capable of the magic that Harry can conjure up.” Melinda Short, via email

“Our best ever game breaker.” charrua74

“The first name that every Socceroo band-wagoner learnt.” Dave__892. JOHNNY WARREN

The face of Australian football, most football fans would agree that the sport’s current success in Australia owes more to “Captain Socceroo” than anyone else, and well over half of our voters had him in their top five.

A vocal proponent of professional football, as a commentator and journalist, Warren documented the problems facing the game in Australia in his best-selling book Sheilas, Wogs and Poofters and was on the committee of the Crawford Report in 2003 which led to the formation of the A-League.

He is much loved for the passion he showed for football, famously crying on national TV when the Socceroos failed to qualify for the 2002 World Cup.

Warren’s list of honours is long. He was the first Australian footballer to be made an MBE in 1973, and in 2002 he received a Medal of the Order of Australia.

What people tend to overlook is Warren, a midfielder, was also a fantastic player. A leader on and off the park, he played for Australia 62 times, captaining the side from 1967 to 1970.

His final game for the national side came in Australia’s first ever appearance at the World Cup Finals in 1974. In 1988, he was inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.

Significantly it is not just Australians who appreciate his immense contribution to the sport. Months before his death in 2004, Warren, along with Pelé and Franz Beckenbauer, was awarded FIFA’s highest honour, the FIFA Centennial Order of Merit.

His last public appearance came at the launch of the A-League – Johnny Warren had set this country on the path to footballing success.

“Synonymous with old school Aussie football.” Guest

“Pioneering.” afromanGT

“To Johnny Warren, who was a personal friend of mine. Australia had no one who had done more for football than Johnny, ever… Yes, he was brilliant, and the best ambassador ever… but not the best player ever. For me, it was [Ray Baartz] Baartzy.” Krueger

“If we’re suggesting the best for the game, Johnny Warren would be #1 in most people’s books.” Dave__89

“For his abilities on the field and his passion.” ole ole ole

“Was Johnny Warren that good? Admittedly I never saw him play live, but I have read/heard mixed reports about how good he actually was. Was his impact greater post-football for all his tireless work, or was he genuinely, from a skill level, one of our best?” sledgeross


3. TIM CAHILL

Goals, goals, goals – the way to every football lover’s heart. But it’s not just how many you score, it’s when you score them. Tim Cahill knows how to pick his moments. Nobody will ever forget his World Cup brace against Japan, first saving, then winning the day.

Our backs were against the wall again at the Asian Cup, 1-0 down against Oman deep into injury time. Enter the super-sub once more, pouncing on the rebound from a Bresciano shot to salvage a draw and Aussie pride.

After 27 games for his country, Cahill boasts an impressive 12 goals from midfield despite often coming off the bench. Yet it so easily could never have happened. His debut for the Socceroos did not come until he was 24 due to eligibility issues after he played for Samoa at U20 level.

By that time he had already spent seven years at Millwall and was about to switch to the Premiership with Everton where he would have a major impact in his first year, topping the club’s goal and assist tallies.

Still only 28 and currently on a goalscoring tear for his club, Cahill seems destined to build on a career that already has him firmly in your top five Australian players of all time. Almost half of you had him on your list and that can’t all be down to his good looks and nice guy persona.

“I love his goals and hops, but have you ever seen him hold the ball for more than five seconds? Ever? He has given away more stuff than Tony Barber.” norimike

“My top five would be… 1.Tim Cahill; 2.Tim Cahill; 3.Tim Cahill; 4.Tim Cahill; 5.Tim Cahill.” S2socceroos

“Only Aussie to be nominated for Footballer of the Year ever.” Guest

“Always there when we need him. Legend!” charrua74

“Will be [top five] when he moves to a bigger club and wins trophies.” bailly

“I’d pay money to see him play. Or just see him really.” Sarah, via email

“How people can have Cahill in their top five is beyond me. The guy can’t pass, dribble or defend.” Maverick4. MARK BOSNICH

Has Mark Bosnich’s recent comeback attempt just been a clever ploy to remind our voters just how good he was?

Or is he doing pre-promotion for a lucrative Sophie Anderton saucy video release. Either way, it’s worked on FourFourTwo readers.

While many keepers don’t peak until well into their 30s, Bosnich was regarded as one of the best keepers in the world by his mid-20s, having burst onto the scene at Aston Villa with a rep for making spectacular saves.

In 1997 he became the only keeper to ever be named Oceania Footballer of the Year.

After 227 appearances for Villa, Bosnich filled the biggest shoes in football, taking over from the treble-winning Peter Schmeichel at Manchester United. However from there, the champagne lifestyle took its toll.

The breakdown of his marriage, a Nazi salute, model girlfriends, cocaine, and injuries saw “Bozza” out of the game at the age of 31.

Now, still only 35 and two years younger than United’s current first choice keeper, Bosnich is contemplating a comeback. Training with QPR, he has shed 20kg and is looking for a contract – he’s even aiming to add to his meagre total of 17 Socceroos caps.

It would be a more fitting finale for the career of one of Australia’s finest players.

“No other Australian could ever have been considered the best player in the world in his position. Even Kewell was never as good an attacking left-sided midfielder as Giggs.” Oliver, via email

“You’ve got to be pretty special to replace Schmeichel.” Peter Marks, via email

“My fave Socceroos are Emerton, Milligan, Dukes and Bosnich, but only one of which I would consider to be in the best 25, let alone five – Bosnich, once the best keeper in the world.” Guest

“Hiddink would never have had that awful Kalac or Schwarzer question against Croatia if Bosnich had been fit to play for Australia. He was obviously our best.” Stefan, via email

“His skills will be forever overshadowed by his off-field antics.” afromanGT


5. CRAIG JOHNSTON
Why do we have a guy on our list who didn’t even play for Australia? In fact, he was born in South Africa and played for England U21 and described playing football for Australia as being “like surfing for England”.

Because when Craig Johnston’s big hair was popping up for the world’s most successful club in the ’80s, scoring an FA Cup winning goal, Australia was captivated.

Johnston, who grew up in Lake Macquarie in NSW, epitomises much of what Australians treasure most in their sporting heroes: ever the underdog, he overcame severe osteomyelitis as a child, ignored rejections, and made the most of his limited talents to succeed on the biggest stage.

He became a cult figure at Liverpool for his crazy long corkscrew hair, super-sub contributions, individuality and total commitment, and Australians couldn’t be more proud at a time when we were deprived of success stories.

Unfortunately Johnston retired prematurely at just 27 to care for his ill sister.

However his stubborn dedication saw him make a final major contribution to the sport – as the creator of Adidas’ revolutionary Predator boot.

“Some might say how did Johnston get in, and he didn’t play for Australia. Well, he played for Liverpool, scored the first goal from an Aussie in the FA Cup Final and he made the Predator.” zimbos_05

“Johnston gets in for guts, and being on late night TV when I was a kid.” norimike

“My earliest memories of football are of Johnston running through the streets in that Tooheys ad.” Tim, via email

“Australians didn’t realise we could make it overseas till that crazy-haired bloke popped up to score that FA Cup Final goal. He was on his own.” Simon, via email