The ex-Championship winning playmaker – who enjoyed successful spells at Perth Glory, Melbourne Victory, Central Coast Mariners and Wellington Phoenix – was caught in 2017 with 11g of ice.

He admitted to police that he had become a dealer after hanging up his playing boots – but said he had been using ice since 2003, from the age of 21 to 35 – and while playing in the A-League.

Caceres, 37, appeared in WA's District Court today to plead guilty to one charge of possessing methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply,

His lawyer Louis Kristopher said Caceres had struggled after retiring from pro football, although he still played for WA NPL side Balcatta in 2015.

“As he moved from the profession of soccer and going into a relationship, and then trying to reintegrate into the real world and a job other than only playing soccer, made him use drugs,” Kristopher said, according to The West Australian newspaper.

The cost accepted he had been a low-level dealer but said the crime was worse because he was on bail at the time for breaching a violence restraining order.

Jailing Caceres, Judge Simon Stone added: “Methylamphetamine causes a significant amount of misery.

"Not only to the addicts but to the family of the addicts and to the community. Because it is so crime related.

“Most of the crimes that come before this court, most of the offending that comes before this court, is related to methylamphetamine use, or illicit substances, in one way or another.”

Caceres could be eligible for parole in September.