With 153 caps between them, Alessandro del Piero and Emile Heskey's unification to promote the beginning of Australia's 2012-13 A-League season could kid you two international heavyweights were together in Sydney.
However whereas Del Piero was revered by Italians and won the World Cup, Heskey was borderline reviled by disillusioned England supporters during a much-maligned Three Lions career.
Western Sydney Wanderers FC's Shinji Ono, Del Piero and Heskey pose for a photograph at the launch of the A-League 2012/13 season
But now the former Leicester, Liverpool, Birmingham Wigan and Aston Villa striker has sought pastures new Down Under, and Australians appear hopeful he and Del Piero can galvanise the nation's soccer league.
Newcastle Jets will be Heskey's sixth club he has played for
Although Del Piero is the greater coup, Newcastle Jets sold out of Heskey shirts after his signing was confirmed last week.
Del Piero made his Juve debut in 1993
Shinji Ono, who played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups with Japan, complemented the triumvirate having moved to Western Sydney Wanderers last week.
Emile Hesky Photo Session
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(01 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
2012/13 A-League Season Launch(02 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC and Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets pose during the 2012/13 A-League Season launch at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Marianna Massey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2012/13 A-League Season Launch(03 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC and Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets pose during the 2012/13 A-League Season launch at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
2012/13 A-League Season Launch(04 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC and Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets pose during the 2012/13 A-League Season launch at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Emile Heskey Portrait Session(05 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Newcastle Jets poses at Energy Australia Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(06 of27)
Football stars Emile Heskey (L) of England and Shinji Ono of Japan (R) speak to the media at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Italy's Alessandro Del Piero for Sydney FC and England's Emile Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. The league will have 140 matches played by 10 clubs across 27 rounds. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(07 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(08 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Newcastle Jets Headshots(09 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Newcastle Jets speaks to the media during his first training session at Energy Australia Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(10 of27)
Football player Emile Heskey (C) of England speaks to the media at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Italy's Alessandro Del Piero for Sydney FC and England's Emile Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. The league will have 140 matches played by 10 clubs across 27 rounds. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(11 of27)
Football stars Emile Heskey (L) of England and Shinji Ono of Japan (R) speak to the media at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Italy's Alessandro Del Piero for Sydney FC and England's Emile Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. The league will have 140 matches played by 10 clubs across 27 rounds. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(12 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(13 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(14 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
2012/13 A-League Season Launch(15 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers, Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC and Emile Heskey of Necastle Jets pose during the 2012/13 A-League Season launch at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-AUS-ASIA-JPN-ONO(16 of27)
Football stars Shinji Ono of Japan (L), Alessandro Del Piero of Italy (C) and Emile Heskey (R) of England pose for photos at the launch of Australia's A-League 2012/13 season in Sydney on October 2, 2012. The Australia A-League is attracting top players from around the world to play in the league with Ono to play for Western Sydney Wanders FC, Del Piero for Sydney FC and Heskey for the Newcastle Jets. AFP PHOTO/William WEST (Photo credit should read WILLIAM WEST/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
Emile Heskey Portrait Session(17 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Newcastle Jets poses at Energy Australia Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(18 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets poses during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(19 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets poses during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(20 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets poses during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Newcastle Jets Headshots(21 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Jets poses at Hunter Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Emile Heskey Portrait Session(22 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Newcastle Jets poses at Energy Australia Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(23 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets poses during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(24 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets poses during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Emile Heskey Portrait Session(25 of27)
NEWCASTLE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 28: Emile Heskey of the Newcastle Jets poses at Energy Australia Stadium on September 28, 2012 in Newcastle, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(26 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets, Tom Rogic of Central Coast Mariners and Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC pose during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
A-League Player Portrait Session(27 of27)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 02: Shinji Ono of Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Emile Heskey of Newcastle Jets, Tom Rogic of Central Coast Mariners and Alessandro Del Piero of Sydney FC hold the A-League Trophy during a 2012/13 A-League player portrait session at Parramatta Stadium on October 2, 2012 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)