1: Mario Jardel (Newcastle Jets)

The two-time European Golden Boot winner arrived in Australia with a fairly lofty profile. The Brazil international had scored goals for fun for many years in Portugal, with FC Porto and Sporting Lisbon, and more of the same was expected in the A-League when he signed as the Jets marquee player in August 2007 on a wage reportedly worth $3,000 a week.

However, 32-year-old Jardel's best years were well and truly behind him. In fact, he'd been struggling since 2002 with injury and fitness problems and had been unable to settle at a club for years, moving around as a footballing nomad until his move to Australia.

Those issues didn't magically go away at Newcastle and coach Gary van Egmond knew it, as he was reluctant to use him as any more than a late substitute despite owner Con Constantine's insistence. Jardel struggled to make much impact in his cameos off the bench and didn't really look likely to do so either, as he appeared well short on confidence and fitness and a tad overweight.

Eventually van Egmond got his way and Jardel was cut adrift by the club in January 2008 having made 11 appearances (mostly as a sub) and without scoring a goal in the A-League. The Jets would go on to win the A-League championship, while Jardel would later admit he abused cocaine during his checkered career.