Ahmad Elrich

NSL Career: Parramatta Power 120 (19) / 1999/00 - 2003/04

Socceroos Career: 17 (5) A Internationals

Before Tarek Elrich became one of the A-League's greatest full-backs, older brother Ahmad was one of the NSL's most exciting talents during the late era of the NSL. Hard-running, versatile and a good distributor - Elrich became the second Lebanese-Australian after Abbas Saad to represent the Socceroos and inspired future first-generation Asian-Australians to aim for a career at the highest level in football.

Western Sydney born and bred, Elrich started his junior career with Parramatta Eagles at the age of nine and progressed through the ranks before making his first team debut at the age of 17 in the NSW Super League. After making eight league appearances for the first team, Elrich was recommended to coach David Mitchell by his local hero Abbas Saad to trial for Parramatta Power's inaugural NSL squad.

Elrich was signed by Power and made his NSL debut at the age of 18 in a three-two loss to Canberra Cosmos before holding down a spot in the side for most of the season - operating on the right flank and using his excellent passing and crossing abilities to create goalscoring opportunities for team mates.

Over the next two seasons, Elrich became a regular starter as Power gradually improved their defensive output to push for a finals berth. Wollongong's championship-winning coach Nick Theodorakopoulos replaced Mitchell for the 2002/03 season and played Elrich further up on the wing where he formed a strong attacking brigade with forwards John Buonavoglia, Kosta Salapasidis and Pablo Cardozo.

Elrich finished runner-up to Buonavoglia in the club's golden boot standings as Power finished third in the league and fourth in the 10-round NSL Championship Series. The winger continued to improve during the final season of the NSL and made his full international debut in a friendly against Venezuela.

Power finished runners-up to Perth for the minor premiership, qualifying for their second finals series in which Elrich became one of the major factors in the club reaching the last-ever NSL Grand Final. Elrich scored and provided an assist in their major semi-final second leg win over Perth before Power met the Western Australian club again in the grand final.

In the grand final, Elrich toiled hard down the right flank and was a constant threat to the Perth defence as he was awarded the Joe Marston Medal. Perth striker Nik Mrdja scored the last ever NSL goal (a golden goal) to secure the championship for the Western Australian club.

Following the collapse of the NSL, Elrich looked to move overseas with the proposed A-League a year away and joined K League club Busan I'Cons (later IPark). Elrich made ten league appearances before a contract dispute saw him miss first team action for the remainder of the season as the club won the Korean FA Cup. 

Desperate to leave the club, Elrich fulfilled his dream of playing in the English Premier League when Fulham signed the Socceroo for the 2005/06 season. Elrich struggled to cement his spot in first team, making just six league appearances before getting a short-term loan to Norwegian club Lyn Oslo. 

Following his stint in the Tippeligaen, where he made six league appearances, Elrich returned to Fulham with an opportunity to get regular game time during the 2006/07 season before suffering an ACL injury in a international friendly against Kuwait, ending his Socceroos career and missed the entire 2006/07 EPL season.

Surplus to Fulham's requirements, Elrich was released ahead of the 2007/08 EPL season and returned to the Australian national league where he became a member of Wellington Phoenix's inaugural A-League squad. 

Despite showing glimpses of his best, including a brilliant long-range strike against Central Coast Mariners, Elrich made just 13 league appearances before joining the Mariners for the 2008/09 season. In the third game of the season, Elrich suffered an injury to his bad knee and missed the rest of the season. 

The former Socceroo returned the following season but struggled to regain form, making just 12 league appearances before hanging up his boots at the age of 29. Following his professional career, Elrich served time in prison before briefly returning to the pitch with stints at Rydalmere Lions and junior club Parramatta Eagles in the NSW lower divisions.