The 45-year-old spent time in Malaysia and Singapore during his 17-year playing career.
Perth Glory coach Alistair Edwards has urged Lions XII players to forget moving to Europe and cut their teeth in Australia.
The last year has seen a number of top Singapore footballers linked with moves overseas, with acclaimed international football agent Jorge Mendes apparently fixing midfielder Hariss Harun and defender Safuwan Baharudin to play in Portugal next season.
But the ex-Socceroos striker Edwards, who has experience of leaving his home country for foreign climes after spending two years in England with Millwall from 1994 to 1996, believes the ever-improving A-League would provide a more appropriate setting for local professionals.
“Australia, like Singapore and Malaysia, is a multicultural society and, as such, players would feel very much at home. The standard of the league is high and still improving,” he explained to Channel News Asia.
“While I have not seen any of the LionsXII players in action, I reckon that, if they are good enough to represent the country, there is no reason why they cannot succeed in Australia.
“So, to someone who is 23 or 24 now, I’d say come to Australia, play two seasons and then you will be ready for the next giant leap into Europe.”
The 45-year-old recently returned to Malaysia with Perth to take on former club Johor Darul Takzim in a pre-season friendly and advised players on the perils of prematurely chasing their European dreams.
“Europe definitely remains the ultimate destination,” Edwards added “However, the hurdles are formidable for Singaporean and Malaysian players.
“The weather, which can be nail-bitingly cold in the winter, is one huge obstacle. The food and language barrier if you are not playing in England can also be very problematic.”
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