Carney has been without a club since he was released by Blackpool after the Lanchasire side were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season.

His release coincided with shoulder surgery which delayed his search for a new club until late in the off-season when many squads were close to being finalised.

He trialed well at West Ham and appeared on the verge of a contract offer with the London outfit but - as also happened following a trial at Nottingham Forest - Carney ultimately left empty-handed.

Just last month Socceroos assistant coach Aurelio Vidmar warned the former Sydney FC winger that he desperately needed to find a new club if he was to keep his place in the Australia side.

He has been displaced by Dutch-based youngster Michael Zullo at leftback for the Socceroos now - and will have to impress at club level to win that spot back again.

Alcorcon overnight confirmed they had signed Carney - who has now played more Socceroo games than he has for any one club after the 27 year old's time in nine different teams during his itinerant career.

The Madrid-based side currently plays in the Spanish Segundo Division in a 3,000-capacity stadium, and finished ninth in the 22-team league last season (which also includes the Barcelona and Villareal B teams).

In a statement on the club website Alcorcon said they intended to play Carney as a playmaker both on the wing and in a more central role.