Player Profile: Brett Emerton

Full Name: Brett Emerton
Date of Birth: 22nd February 1979, Bankstown
Nationality: Australian
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 7
Internationals: Capped at Full level for Australia
Signed: July 2003
Previous Clubs: Sydney Olympic (Australia) & Feyenoord (Holland)

Brett Emerton began his career with Sydney Olympic in his native Australia back in 1996 as a midfielder playing anywhere along the midfield line but most often used as a winger.

A string of impressive displays with Sydney Olympic saw him brought to the attention of a number of European sides. The team to pick him up were Dutch club Feyenoord in 2000. It here he was first be used as a right-back, a position in which Mark Hughes has been using Emerton in recent times.

Voted Oceania Footballer of the year in 2002 saw a move to England an almost certainty with him constantly being linked to some of the biggest clubs in the land. This move eventually came but not before yet more impressive displays with Feyenoord helping them to the UEFA Cup Final. Sadly Emerton missed the Final through suspension.

His move to England was on again with Newcastle United always seeming to have the advantage however it was Graeme Souness who won the race to sign Emerton in the summer of 2003. It was rumoured that as Souness said he intended to use Emerton as an out and out winger with Rovers whereas others were not so willing to assure this. At the time being utilised as a winger was said to be Emerton`s favoured position.

Having started his career brightly all looked very promising however lack of consistency and some poor performances saw the Ewood crowd less than convinced. Hughes` own arrival saw the Australian mainly used from the bench originally.

Before signing a new contact in the summer of 2006 he seemed likely for a move away from Blackburn. This new deal and Hughes' decision to utilise him as a right-back seem to have rejuvenating the Australian seeing a series of impressive displays that have been almost certainly his best during his time with Rovers.

International recognition with Australia first came in his debut season with Sydney Olympic in 1996. So far Emerton has won over 50 caps being a member of the 2006 World Cup Squad, starting all three group matches. He unfortunately missed the Socceroos' second round exit at the hands of eventual winners Italy through suspension having been sent off against Croatia in the final group game for two bookable offences.

Although listed as a midfielder Emerton is a sort of Paul Warhurst character in the respect he can play almost anywhere!

Blackburn Rovers appearances and goals up to the start of the 2006-2007 Season
League: 80 (23 as sub) - 7 goals
FA Cup: 7 (3 as sub)
League Cup: 8 (4 as sub) - 2 goals
Other (European etc.): 2 - 1 goal
TOTAL: 97 - 10 goals

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