Who is Australia’s greatest ever Socceroo?

Reg Date was the best foot baller that ever played in Australia. he was in aclass of his own.

Purely on players I have seen with my own eyes on a regular basis - Attila Abonyi is, was, and will forever be my football hero. If your out there Atti - thankyou.

Who cares?

I've assesed what I can. Bosnich Lazaridis Ivanovic Moore Chipperfield Zelic Warren Skoko Viduka Kewell Coach Rale Rasic Female Murray / Salisbury

We talk about greatest ever Australian soccer players or soccer's. And i think 2 names also have to be thrown into the hat. Craig Johnston, and Joseph Simunic. Craig Johnston was aussie man but born in south africa. The family moved back to newcastle Australia when he was a young child. What allayers criag johnston was at Liverpool in the UK, won a FA cup i think he even scored in a FA cup final. He would of represented Australia but chose to try his luck for the england national team, he made the England under -21 team. Or had a falling out with soccer management i don't know the full history. But Craig Johnson would have to go close to making the greatest ever Socceroo team. He always regretted he said often if he could change history he would of loved to of played for the soccerroos. As would Joseph Simunic, who was born in Canberra but chose to play for Croatia. He was in my mind better than both Lucas Neil, Craig Moore, and Tony Vidmar, a real world class defender. Still can't believe Kalac did not make the list of greets ever soccer keepers. He did play for AC Milan he was a towering tall keeper just had that shocker vs Croatia at would cup 2006. And lubjo Milocivic had the talent to be a great defender for the soccer's but wasn;t able to progress for one reasons or another.

I think he did make it in Europe in Cyprus. Though back then I would have rated the local NSL a better comp than the Cyprus league. Now though with recent runs in the Champions league it is not so cut and dried.

Sorry this is too hard for me---I could never choose a best 11 out of these legendary names not even a best ever player. I was lucky enough to see Joe Masdon and Johnny Warren playing against each other in a semi final at Wentworth Park in Sydney back in the 60s, which will live forever with me in my memory. Those two legend Australian footballers may not rate as the best ever, but the best ever for inspiration I've seen in my life time. It's fitting to see now we have two Australian Football awards named after them. If only we can find an award for goal keeper Ron Lord to be named after---a legion of his generation as well.

Stevo A good point, however it should be remembered that Jack was not actually regarded as the first choice goalkeeper at that time for, if memory serves me well, I think you will find Jimmy Fraser ,a self-employed worker, could not afford the time off to go to the World Cup.That's what makes the '74 Socceroos such an intriguing story,most ,if not all, were part-timers.jb

Thanks Fuss. There are many wonderful tales about the part-time '74 Socceroos, for instance Manfred Schaeffer being a milkman , playing against his native German super stars (the eventual winners) but none is more "way out" than the background of defensive midfielder Ray Richards. Ray arrived in Australia to play with a Qld team called Latrobe around 1963/64 his preferred position being that of goalkeeper.Having watched the then club goalkeeper Horrie Clarke perform, and, being a young lad quick on his feet,Ray quickly became a central attacker where his body strength and shooting power made him an instant success as a leading goalscorer.When he moved to Sydney he was not an instant success until he teamed up with Rasic who saw a huge potential in him as a defensive midfielder.Ray went on to make this position his own in the Socceroo teams of the time his personal "Everest" being when facing Santos in a sell -out game in Sydney he is reported to have "marked" the great Pele out of the game. From Brisbane's first playboy "super star", (he drove a "gull wing" Mercedes sports car) to the blotting out of Pele and the World Cup finals in 74 in 11 years, the story is the stuff of which dreams are made. jb

Would like to have seen Jack Reilly in the list of goal keepers even if he is on the expert panel. Greatest players: can't go past Kewell, Dukes, Bozza for sheer international class. They could easily have been picks in other national squads (I think the poms were keen to get their hands on our Harry).

Where is holman on the nominee list one of only 2 players with multiple world cup goals and our best current player. Greatest of all time is kewell greatest Oceania player of alcl time is winston rufer or karambeu

Johnno I was too young to appreciate Johnny Warren's football prowess, or any of the lads who played prior to 1977. Whilst I recall watching WC1974, I only remember the games & results. I cannot reconstruct any individual passages of play or recall episode of "individual brilliance" ... to use the words of my team's sweeper! I'm glad jb and a few others have provided us with their expert opinion on the lads, who were our Aussie football legends in the 60s & early 70s.

striker You know me - I take nothing more seriously than analysis of football ... heck, I reckon I've already spent as much time ruminating over my UCL Fantasy Team as any of the 4 managers, who are actually involved next week! When choosing my "best ever Aussie playes" I've tried to load my team with players - in their correct positions - whom I consider the most technically proficient in the basics of the game: control, 1st touch, passing range, heading, ability to strike the ball, cross the ball, shield the ball. In my opinion, Timmy has technical deficiencies in many areas - particularly when we compare him with the 6 other lads I've picked in my team. PS: Oscar Crino is my boyhood hero. For me, he was Australia's Andreas Pirlo. I have no doubt, Crino would have made it in Europe if he had chosen football as his career.

Bosnich (Schwarzer deserves it but I'm choosing the team I want to watch) Chipperfield Yankos Neil Davidson Zelic Matt McKay Okon Kewell Viduka Holminho -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.

Best players ever from Aus, For me it is Kewell Dukes Bozza They are the only truly world class players we have produced.

Johnno - Having watched most of the players being nominated I would rate Johnny Warren well down the list of midfielders who have graced the Socceroo ranks. That does not mean he was not a good player by our standards but in truth Johnny did far more for the game AFTER he retired from the playing side of the game.What a lot of people don't realise is that by the time the 1974 World Cup Finals came around Johnny was nearing the end of his career and I would say that despite the injury he incurred in the first game Rasic's preferred midfield by that time was probably Rooney,Richards and Jimmy Mackay. Since then we have had players like Zelic,Okon, Bresciano and Grella who have all plied their trades in the top leagues of Europe,a height never achieved by any of the '74 midfielders. Pre- '74 ,and back nearer JW's prime career time, the best midfielder I saw playing was Ray Baartz who was a tremendous "strike" part of any team he played for.jb

here is the voting from Germany ———Bosnich Marston—Wilson–Ivanovic–Curran Cahill——Richards—-Watkiss Date—–Baartz—–Kewell Coach --- Rale Rasic bench - Lord, Utjesenovic, Neill, Zelic, Rooney, Kosmina, Abonyi, I miss A.Quill and J.McNabb in that list. Also in goal I like T.Greedy and R.Zabica.

My team Spider Yes Spider Pete Wilson Neil Moore Chippers Zelic Grella Bresch Cahill Kewell V-bomber coach : Aussie Guss P.S And wasn't Robert Zabica as vitnage NSL as you can get great match mate at the river plate in 93 we almost beat Maradonna Argies coz of your keeping efforts that famous night had the match of your life mate.

This is my socceroos team, with the one qualifier - I am using only those players who have turned out for the A-League on at least one occassion (3-5-2): __________________Bozza __________________Zelic ____________Moore_____Poppa Emo______________Okon_________McKay ____________Skoko_____Corica ____________Aloisi______Kewell