January’s transfer window underlined an evolving trend across Australia's football landscape.

Three talented Australians – all with Socceroo experience on their resumes – inked major deals with big clubs in the Asian Football Confederation.

Exciting striker Nathan Burns, who debuted for the green and gold in 2007, turned his gaze away from Europe after four years with AEK Athens to sign with the Korea Republic’s K-League outfit Incheon United.

Joining him in this regional power-base was former Italian-based defender Adrian Madaschi. He wrapped up a successful short-term deal with Melbourne Heart to link up with Jeju United making his K-League debut last weekend in their 3-1 win over Burns’ boys.

The Korean exodus was given extra impetus when forward Matt Simon - after 36 goals over six years at Central Coast - departed to join Chunnam Dragons.

Not to be outdone, China is also capable of attracting our best.

February’s transfers of former Socceroo Mile Sterjovski from Perth Glory to Chinese Super League side Dalian Aerbin, and highly rated Mariner Rostyn Griffiths, who inked a lucrative deal with Guangzhou R&F, showed that league’s ambition is matched by financial power in this booming economy.

Home fans may despair but it’s the nature of a global business like football.

In the space of a month five talented Australians joined an existing and expanding base of players across the AFC in some of the region’s biggest leagues.

It’s why many are calling this era the rise of the ‘Asia-Roos’.

The Korean Republic has become a hub of Oz activity in recent seasons. Talented ex-Roar defender Luke DeVere signed for Gyeongnam FC last season, joining goal-scoring stopper Robbie Cornthwaite at Chunnam Dragons who also inked a deal a year ago.

And this year, defender Eddie Bosnar swapped Japan’s Shimizu for South Korea linking up with Suwon Bluewings.

For Simon, when the opportunity came for him to join the K-League and play aIongside fellow countryman, it was a no-brainer.

“The facilities here at Chunnam are excellent and there are some unbelievable players in the squad,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“I moved to Korea because the opportunity was too good to pass up. The training and the games are so fast over here and I believe my game will get better as a result.

“And with so much training and so many games I will be fitter than ever.

“I would definitely recommend the K-League to Australian players. It’s a good league and the clubs’ facilities are excellent. You really feel like a professional footballer over here.”

While a new generation of our footballers strive to make their mark in Korea, there’s one Aussie who’s already secured superstar status there: Sasa Ognenovski.

The Socceroo, who lined up against the Saudis last month, impressed so much during Adelaide United’s AFC Champions League run in 2008 that K-League heavyweights Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma signed the defender.

His subsequent success blazed a trail for the green and gold rush north and, other than Josh Kennedy in Japan; the big man's success has had the most impact in kick-starting the Asia-Roos trend.

The big man’s accomplishments included the honour of becoming club captain and being voted the prestigious AFC Player of the Year in 2010.

Throw in a goal, a winner’s medal and a Man of the Match award in the AFC Champions League Final of the same year - as well as gaining his first Socceroo caps - and you could easily argue Ognenovski has been Australia’s most successful Asian export.

Ognenovski’s Korean link was forged years earlier when he was playing for Queensland Roar.

Korean player Shin Tae-Yong enjoyed a stint with the Roar and later coached Ognenosvki’s club in the K-League.

“He knew me as a player and as a person,” Ognenovski told Australian FourFourTwo magazine.

“So that made the decision easier. It was important for me to find a coach that knew me and respected me, instead of a new manager who gives you only three or four games to impress.

“Also the club is based out of Seoul which is a great place to live and to train; the facilities are great. It’s a great place for my family. Seoul as a city is buzzing.

“And the Koreans think I look like Hugh Jackman!”

Look beyond Korea and the Asia-Roos trend is just as strong in neighbouring Japan.

Striker Josh Kennedy stands tall in every sense and is probably the most well-known Australian player in J1.

The Victorian’s goals at Nagoya Grampus have shone a light on the green and gold’s reputation and, like Ognenovski in the Korea Republic, he has become the ‘face’ of Australian players in Japan.

And as we saw this week with FC Tokyo, the J-League is still a class above.

Fellow striker Alex Brosque is another Aussie finding his feet and the net in Japan with Shimizu S-Pulse.

In fact, the ‘J-Roos’ Brosque and Kennedy accounted for five of the Socceroos’ first eight goals scored in Australia’s 2014 FIFA World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Brosque topped and tailed the group with an impressive brace against the Saudis last week to underline the success of his move from Sydney FC over a year ago.

But it’s not just goal-scorers making a mark; our defenders have been making a name for themselves in the Land of the Rising Sun.

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