“David Carney, it's a great success story,” the Hollywood star said with pride.

“I was there right at the beginning when I went out to a training session and there were two players in particular, David and I think Tezza [Terry McFlynn]. They looked overweight and out of shape and not very impressive.

“And Pierre Littbarski – who I think has received some unwarranted criticism he's received since he's left – saw something in these two.

"What people don't realise is that the team was picked by committee – I wasn't on board back then. He inherited that.

“But he saw something in David. He saw the potential and I think he worked particularly hard with David.

He added: "I think the discipline and attitude towards training that Pierre instilled in all the players was a contributing factor to where he is now.”

Carney - who returned to Australia after his career had stalled in 2005 while playing in Scotland at Hamilton Academicals - has now been shown off at Championship powerhouse Sheffield United as a new signing alongside former Everton and England striker James Beattie.

“He's a great success story,” LaPaglia adds of Carney. “There are probably thousands of players who slip through the cracks each year – it's like my industry, everyone wants to be an actor, writer, director.

"And everyone wants to be a football player too. But occasionally, like in David Carney's case, they get a second lease of life.

"He's now turned into a world class player.”

As for LaPaglia himself, football runs through his veins.

“For someone like me, I didn't get into it to make money," he said. "I got into it for the love of the game. I love the game in Australia.

“I want to see Australian football and footballers get the respect they deserve, which of course they did at the last World Cup.”