The Premier League has long provided the stage for some of Australian football’s greatest names, and now a new generation is preparing to write its own chapter.
With the new season just days away, 18-year-old Socceroos defender Lucas Herrington is preparing for life in England’s top flight after completing a move to newly-promoted Hull City, becoming the latest Australian to feature in the world’s most-watched domestic competition.
But what happened to the Aussies who came before him?
Some have remained firmly entrenched in football, becoming national team coaches, club bosses, technical directors, agents and television pundits.
For others, life after the Premier League has taken them down some far more unexpected paths.
Among them is an Aussie great who now runs a café in Croatia, another who has built a property portfolio, a former Socceroo who became a partner at a major law firm and another who is now the CEO of an Italian football club.
There’s also a former Premier League goalkeeper who describes himself as a “full-time dad” and “part-time surf/golfer”, while others have ventured into everything from football academies and international recruitment to running a luxury retreat.
And then there are those who have disappeared from the football spotlight.
As Herrington prepares to begin his Premier League journey, Fox Sports Australia looks back at the Australians who came before him and the fascinating, successful and sometimes bizarre places they have ended up.
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No Australian has played more Premier League football than Mark Schwarzer, with the legendary goalkeeper making a remarkable 514 appearances across spells with Middlesbrough, Fulham, Chelsea and Leicester City.
Schwarzer spent the majority of his English career at Middlesbrough, making 332 Premier League appearances before adding another 172 at Fulham and later providing experienced cover at Chelsea and Leicester.
His longevity remains extraordinary, with Schwarzer playing across 19 Premier League seasons and recording more than 150 clean sheets in the competition.
Since retiring, the former Socceroos No.1 has remained closely connected to the Premier League through the media.
Now 53, Schwarzer has established himself as a prominent pundit and commentator, including appearances on the BBC’s Match of the Day