Soccer: The A-League's big three

Already the media and fans are foaming at the mouth in anticipation of seeing Dwight Yorke in action. With his star billing on and off the pitch, it's only natural the former Manchester United striker receives the lion's share of the attention when the A-League kicks off at the end of August.

But Yorke is not the only big name to grace the A-League this season with a World Cup winner, two former England internationals, a multiple FA Cup winner, a UEFA Cup finalist, a World Cup goalscoring record holder and a sprinkling of current internationals from the likes of China, Belgium, Austria and Korea.

The Australian league has attracted some big names in the past. Usually, however, they've been more interested in laying back than laying off, with former Italian international midfielder Nicola Berti a prime example when he was a major disappointment for Northern Spirit in 2000.

Most sides have attracted players from overseas for the 2005/06 season, or attracted Australians back from overseas, with the Knights, Newcastle, Melbourne and Sydney the most active.

This includes the likes of David Zrilich (Sydney), Kevin Muscat (Melbourne), Simon Colosimo (Perth), Archie Thompson (Melbourne), Steve Corica (Sydney) and Richard Kitzbichler (Melbourne). However, three individuals stand out from the crowd.

Steve McMahon

Although there is a Steve McMahon jr who will line up in the purple of Perth this season, it's his father who will prompt nods of recognition.

While his coaching CV is adequate with stints at Swindon Town and Blackpool, where he won promotion with them to League One as well as the LDV Vans Trophy, it was as a player that McMahon made his name.

After starting out at Everton in 1979, the midfield hardman had two seasons with Aston Villa (he had received an offer to cross the Mersey to play for Liverpool but wanted to keep in the good books of Evertonians) before becoming Kenny Dalglish's first signing at Liverpool in 1985.

He ultimately spent six extremely successful years with the Reds, winning three league championships, a league and Cup double and two FA Cups during his 276 games, and was also selected in Liverpool's team of the 90s. Added to that, he also won 17 caps for England, playing in both the 1988 European Championships and the 1990 World Cup.

While it might be hard to pick a highlight from his playing days, it's unlikely to be the rap song written by team-mate Craig Johnston for the official FA Cup final song from 1988.

While Liverpool were upset 1-0 in the final by rank outsiders Wimbledon, the song reached No 3 in the UK charts and later prompted ITV commentator Brian Moore to rap his own version calling for McMahon to be included in the England side - "Well Steve McMahon sure can rap, it's about time he had an England cap; so come on Bobby Robson, he's your man; 'cause if anyone can, Macca can."

After rumours of discontent among Perth players because of McMahon's hardline approach to training, it seems McMahon raps to a different tune these days.

Brian Deane

£8.5 million (NZ$21.7m) in transfer fees, three England caps and 733 games in the top leagues - Brian Deane comes to the A-League with some pedigree. At 37, he might be some way past his prime and was said to be considering retirement before deciding to head Down Under, but the former Sheffield United, Leeds, Benfica, Middlesbrough, Leicester City, West Ham and Sunderland striker sure knows how to find the goal with a record of 223 strikes during his 20 years in English football.

The 1.93m powerful striker also holds the record of scoring the first goal in the Premier League, which started in 1992 (it was previously known as the First Division), when he scored against Manchester United while playing for Sheffield United.

He spent most of last season at Leeds, where he was born, before transferring to Sunderland towards the end of last season and helping them back to the top flight.

McMahon wanted to sign a big-name player capable of footing it with Yorke - Perth fans will hope Deane is that man.

Pierre Littbarski

If Yorke ever gets too big for his boots and thinks he's the big man around campus, he need look no further than his coach to get a sense of perspective.

Perhaps the most successful footballer to grace the Australian league, Pierre Littbarski is the only player to appear in three consecutive World Cup Finals, when he turned out for Germany in 1982, 1986 and 1990.

In the first two forays, Germany fell one game short of picking up football's Holy Grail but they went one better in 1990 when he was a key member of the side that defeated Argentina in Italy.

In all, he played 73 games for his country, scoring 18 goals, and amassed a record of 406 games in the Bundesliga for FC Cologne.

Now the highly-successful midfielder has swapped his boots for the blackboard and has joined Sydney FC after coaching stints in Germany and Japan, where he finished his playing career in 1997.

He's learned from some of the best in the business, including the 'Kaiser' Franz Beckenbauer and Berti Vogts, and has put together a squad that is the hottest of hot favourites to take out the inaugural A-League.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY