With Wollongong's history of producing Socceroos and past involvement in the former NSL, the region is one of the favoured areas for A-League expansion.

Sterjovski was born and bred in the area and kick-started his career with former National league side, Wollongong Wolves. .

Part of the Golden Generation, Sterjovski forged a successful career in Europe, winning a league title with Swiss side FC Basel with whom he played with in European Champions League along with French side Lille.

The 43-capped Soccerooo now has his own coaching academy and said that any A-League team in Wollongong must focus on their performance on the park if they are to be successful.

"First and foremost, the team needs to have an identity and a philosophy about the style of football they want to play,” said the 37-year-old. “Then they have to recruit the coach that is going to do that and the coach and the club then have to recruit the players that is going to fit into that system and style of play. That’s where it should all start. Then they must engage with the fans and listening to them is a major thing.

"It’s a massive area and they do tend to produce a lot of quality players. I’m all for it as long as we can get a good crowd there."

Over the past 25 years Wollongong has produced five Australian national team players including Sterjovski and the former Lake Heights Junior said an A-League team in the area would help foster even more talent.

“There’s something about Wollongong and the Illawarra that does produce a lot of players – like Scott Chipperfield, Luke Wilkshire, Adam  Federici” he said.

“There’s quite a few that have gone on and played for the Socceroos. If there was a team there it would be good to keep the local talent local and them not have to move to Sydney or interstate to player national league football.”