Names such as Milan Blagojevic, Aytek Genc, Alistair Edwards, Abbas Saad, Mehmet Durakovic and Alan Davidson are well known and respected in AFC circles, particularly in South-East Asia.

These and others plied their trades as footballers across Asia before Australia became a member of the AFC.

With limited quality jobs available in Australia, is it only a matter of time before some of our highly talented young coaches and former pros turn to the challenges of Asia in order to progress their coaching careers, says Ollerenshaw.

"These guys are still fondly remembered for their exploits as players in both Singapore and Malaysia. They are remembered as winners and Asian teams will jump at the chance to employ them once they place themselves on the market," he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

"Other ambitious young coaches such as John Paul De Marigny, Gary Phillips and Ian Gray would undoubtedly also interest Asian clubs not only in SE Asia but in China and the Arab countries."

There has been a core of Aussie coaches flying the flag for some years. Steve Darby, Scott O'Donell and Darren Stewart have all made Asia their home over the last two decades and provide inspiration and knowledge for other Aussie coaches in the region.

Stewart coaches in Singapore's S-League with high-flying Gombak United while O'Donell is a former Cambodian national team boss and was recently with the AFC as a director of coaching (and connected with AFC boss Mohamed Bin Hammam).

"They may not be household names back home," said Ollerenshaw, capped 14 times for the Socceroos, "but they have all been highly successful and are now fully respected in the region as coaches who get results."

Darby is arguably the most successful Australian coach in the region. He first arrived in Malaysia in 1998 to coach Johor and apart from a two year stint with English club Sheffield Wednesday has been in the region ever since.

He has won all trophies on offer at club level in both Singapore and Malaysia. He also coached Vietnam to the Gold Medal in the 2001 SEA Games. He is currently assistant to former Sunderland boss Peter Reid in Thailand with their national team.

"In the cut-throat world of football in this region, where losing two games on the trot can see you unemployed," added Ollerenshaw, "these three pioneers are entrenched in the coaching set up in SE Asia."

*Scott Ollerenshaw is tournament director of the Borneo Football Cup, an international amateur tournament for seniors and juniors male and female players held in the tropical paradise of Sabah in East Malaysia. For the sporting holiday of a lifetime, check out www.borneofootballcup.com