PLAYER PROFILE

Brett Emerton

Position: Midfield

Height: 6'1

Weight: 13st 3lbs

Date of Birth: 1979-02-22 Bankstown, Australia

Brett Emerton

Highly sought-after Australian international Brett Emerton finally ended over twelve months of Premiership transfer speculation by signing a four-year deal with Blackburn Rovers for around £2.2million in July 2003.

Strong on the ball, the former Feyenoord star can operate on the right side of midfield, in the centre or as right back, but it is tipped that Brett will slot in nicely on the Rovers’ right wing.

His passing ability is the major asset of his game and he can also get forward and deliver crosses as well as score goals.

He’s played in the Champions League too so he can bring a wealth of top-level experience to the young Rovers team.

Despite previously being linked with Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester United and a host of other top European sides, Emerton sees a rosy future for the Lancashire club.

He said: "I've always dreamed of playing in the Premiership so to finally achieve it is great, and Blackburn are a great club, they performed well last season, finishing in the top six and they're only going to improve.

"I'm going to England to fulfil my dream, so it's not too difficult to leave Holland. It's been a long time coming. Obviously I'm very delighted it's finally happened, I'm really looking forward to the season ahead."

Emerton started his playing career with a football scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), before his immense potential was spotted by a wily Feyenoord scout in the summer of 2000 as he was snapped up whilst playing for Aussie side Sydney Olympic.

He has represented his country at under-17 and at under-23 level, and was in the Australian team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

He made his senior international debut against Chile in 1998 and now has a starring role in the Socceroos’ midfield. He helped his country to third place in the 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup and scored the third goal in the Aussies’ recent 3-1 friendly defeat of England. These heroics for the national side along with masterful displays in the Feyenoord midfield saw him become Oceana’s player of the year for 2003.

His first season in England's top flight went rather smoothly, considering the fate of some of Souness' other summer signings that year. He played in almost 40 games and scored 3 goals.

This excellent start was continued into the 2004/05 season as he cemented his place in the Blackburn midfield. He made 44 appearances, scoring 5 times, including the opener in Blackburn's embarrassing Carling Cup Second Round penalty shoot-out exit to Bournemouth.

This fine form continued into the 2005/06 season as he scored twice in thirty seven appearances. He also played for Australia during the 2006 World Cup finals, although he was sent-off in the final group game against Croatia.

He played 44 times for Blackburn in 06/07 and is a vitally important part of their team.