The A-League uses a ‘Marquee’ player system – similar to the MLS’s Designated Player – that allows the Australian soccer league the room to attract star names to their teams without smashing the salary cap.

Shane Perris wrote an excellent series of articles on the main Soccerlens site last year reviewing the Marquee system – here they are:

Part 1: Introduction to the Marquee player system

Part 2: Has the overseas Marquee experiment worked

Part 3: Coming home – the local Marquee players

Shane Perris is the resident geek of techwhimsy.com and journeyman wingback for Narrabundah FC.