Eight former Prem stars you didn’t know played in Australia after Rodwell’s move

After some years in the wilderness, Jack Rodwell is hoping to revitalise his career after signing for Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.

The midfielder has had some tough spells after signing for Manchester City as a youngster back in 2012.

After showing huge promise at Everton, Rodwell failed to capitalise on his potential and his career has largely frittered away with failed spells at Sunderland, Blackburn and Sheffield United to follow.

But he is not the only player to ever cast an eye to Australia and move down under in a bid to get their playing profession back on track.

Daily Star Sport is on hand to remind you of all those forgotten faces who became Premier League Pommies.

Daniel Sturridge

In one of more high-profile cases in recent history, former Liverpool striker Sturridge has moved across the world after some tough times with injuries.

The forward joined Perth Glory in October and one of his first actions has been to bizarrely request a barber on his Instagram account.

Luis Garcia

Famous for his ‘ghost goal’ against Chelsea in the Champions League, Liverpool legend Garcia went into full journeyman mode in the latter stages of his career.

His journey took him to Greece, Mexico and India before settling on Australia where he joined Central Coast Mariners in 2016.

Alessandro Diamanti

Speaking of journeyman, one of the most biggest nomads in recent football is currently playing in Australia for Western United in the shape of Diamanti.

In total, the Italian has played for 17 clubs – including West Ham and Watford – and famously scored the winning penalty in the Euro 2012 quarter-final against England.

William Gallas

There are not many players who can say they have pulled on the shirts of Chelsea, Arsenal and Tottenham – and probably none as controversial as Gallas.

But after a career in the Premier League winding up strikers, the Frenchman cooled off by joining Perth Glory in 2013 where he stayed for one season before retiring.

Massimo Maccarone

Maccarone proved his worth to Middlesbrough just for his goals in the UEFA Cup, including against Basel and Steaua Bucharest – the latter taking them to the final in Eindhoven.

However, the striker largely only played in Italy except for that spell at the Riverside and a one year stint at Brisbane Road in 2017.

Dwight Yorke

This is something of a rare case because when Yorke departed English football in 2005 for Sydney FC, it came as a shock when he returned just a year later.

Sunderland signed the former Manchester United star where he stayed for three years where he reunited with his old captain Roy Keane – who was manager at the time.

Gary Hooper

Piece of trivia here, Hooper is the only player to have scored in the Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup, League Cup, Football League Trophy, FA Trophy, Champions League, Europa League, Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, Scottish Premiership, the Conference National and the Conference South.

He’s also scored in Australia where he is currently in his second spell with Wellington Phoenix after a short spell in India with Kerala Blasters.

Damien Duff

One of the first signings of Roman Abramovich’s era at Chelsea, Duff enjoyed a fine spell at Stamford Bridge before further spells at Newcastle and Fulham.

But a trip across the globe was to follow when he joined Melbourne City for one season – but he would be back when he returned to his hometown Dublin to sign for Shamrock Rovers.

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