Athens 5 years on.

It's nearly been five years since Australia competed at the Athens Olympics.  The men's football team was able to get out of their group finishing second to eventual gold medalists Argentina. Australia was knocked out by the single goal in the quarter finals by Iraq.

The three overage players chosen in the eighteen men squad were Craig Moore, Tim Cahill and John Aloisi.  

Below is a look at how the other 15 players have progressed since the Athens Olympics.

The goalkeepers.

Brad Jones, was Australia's second choice at Athens.  Appears to have made a breakthrough at Middlesbrough this season after Mark Schwazer moved to Fulham making 20 appearances in all competitions.  Has represented Australia only once but has been part of a number more Australia squads.

Eugene Galekovic, was named goalkeeper of 2008/09 A-league season and has played in the ACL Champions League season final with Adelaide Untied.

The defenders.

Jade North, played for the Newcastle Jets in the first four and a half seasons in the A-league. Since the start of 2009 North has been been with K-league club Incheon Untied however at this point in the season he has only made a handful of appearances for them.  North is regularly chosen for Australia squads and has made 23 appearances for the national team.  

Shane Cansdell-Sheriff, is a centre back who can also play at left back or left midfield.  Since Athens he's played for Danish club AGF Aarhus and English lower league teams Tammere Rovers and Shrewsbury Town.

Jon Mckain is a centre back who can also play in the centre of midfield.  Mckain has made 12 appearances for Australia.  Last season Mackain come back to play for Wellington in the A-league after spending the previous seasons with clubs in the Romanian league.

Adrain Madaschi is a centre back.  Madaschi currently plays for Portosummaga in Italy's Liga Pro Prima Divisione (formely Serie C1). He has previously played for Scottish clubs Patrick Thistle and Dundee.   

David Tarka is a centre back.  Tarka currently plays for Perth but the amount of games he's been able to play for them in the last few years have been limited by serious injuries.

The midfielders.

Ahmad Elrich  is a right winger.  After Athens Elrich had unsuccessful spells with Korean club Busan I'cons and English club Fulham.  In the last two seasons Elrich has come back to the A-league playing firstly with Wellington and then the Central Coast.  

Ryan Griffths can play as a striker or left winger.  After Athens Griffths played in the Romanian league with National Bucuresti and Rapid Bucuresti and since 2007 in the Chinese league with Liaoning and Beijing Guoan.   

Luke Wilkshire is a versatile player who can play anywhere in midfield or at full back on either side.  Wilkshire is currently Australia's first choice at right back and has been one of Australia's best players in the current qualifying campaign.  Wilkshire was part of Australia's 2006 World Cup squad and plays for Dynamo Moscow.     

Anthony Danze is an attacking midfielder.  After Athens Danze had an unsuccessful two year spell with Crystal Palace.  Danze was signed by Perth for the 2007/08 season however on the 13th of December 2007 he left the club by mutual consent. 

Carl Valeri.  Is a central defensive midfielder.  He plays for and is captain of Serie B side Grosseto.  In the last of couple of years he has become a regular squad member for Australia making 16 appearances.

Spase Dilevski is a versatile player who can play at right wing and fullback on either side. Since 2008 he has been successfully playing as a central defensive midfielder for his Romanian club FC Universitatea Craiova. 

The forwards.

Alex Brosque can also play as a left winger.  Since Athens Brosque has played for Belgium side K.V.C Westerlo, and A-league side Queensland Roar.  He now plays for Sydney.

Brett Holman can also play as an attacking midfielder.  Since 2002 Holman has played for clubs in the dutch league.  Holman now plays for AZ Alkmar the current Dutch Eredivisie champions. Since 2006 Holman has become a regular squad member for Australia making 23 appearances and scoring the 1 goal.        

So of the 15 under 23 year old players of the squad chosen to play in Athens, four are now regular squad members for Australia and one Luke Wilkshire is first choice for his position. One is no longer playing profesional football.  Five are playing in the A-league.  Three are playing in the lower leagues of Europe and one plays in China.