M'sian Super League: Marquee stars loaded

PABLO AIMAR

Club: Johor Darul Ta'zim,

Age: 34, Position: Midfielder

The Argentinian (left), who played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups, is undoubtedly the biggest star of this season's Malaysian Super League.

The former River Plate and Valencia player reportedly gets a $2.78 million annual package, making him the MSL's highest-paid foreign player.

He will be operating Johor's engine room with the likes of Singapore midfielder Hariss Harun.

Aimar has wasted no time in gelling with his teammates, helping them to a 7-1 win over an under-strength Tampines Rovers in a friendly last month.

LUCIANO FIGUEROA

Club: Johor Darul Ta'zim,

Age: 32, Position: Forward

The ex-Argentina international starred for clubs like Villarreal, River Plate and Boca Juniors.

He joined Johor Darul Ta'zim from Panathinaikos for about US$1 million ($1.2m) last month.

Figueroa (above, shielding the ball from Per Mertesacker at the 2005 Confederations Cup) helped Argentina Under-23 to the football gold at the 2004 Olympics.

But he missed the 2006 World Cup due to injury.

MOHAMED SHAWKY

Club: Kelantan,

Age:32, Positon: Midfielder

The Egyptian international played in the EPL for two-and-a-half seasons with Middlesbrough and also scored against Brazil in a 4-3 loss at the 2009 Confederations Cup.

In a recent interview with Malaysian media, Shawky (above, in red) said he has settled in fast at Kelantan as he is reunited with Mohammed Ghaddar and Francis Forkey Doe, who are his exteammates at Egyptian club Al-Ahly.

ZESH REHMAN

Club: Pahang,

Age: 30, Position: Defender

Once linked with S-League club Home United, the Pakistani had featured for Fulham in the EPL and played for other clubs such as QPR, Norwich City and Bradford City.

The 1.89m-tall centre back (above right, tussling with Burnley's ex-Man United striker Andy Cole in a Championship game in 2008), will partner another ex-QPR player Damion Stewart at the heart of the Elephants' backline.

SPASE DILEVSKI

Club: ATM FA,

Age: 28, Position: Midfielder/Defender

The ex-Australia Under-23 player was teammate with the likes of Tim Cahill and John Aloisi, and scored against Brazil Under-23 in an upset 3-2 win at the 2003 Fifa World Youth Championship.

In between signing for PSV Eindhoven (2003) and Tottenham Hotspur (2004), Dilevski (above, left) also played at the Athens Olympics.

But his stint at Spurs lasted just one season due to a lack of playing opportunities.

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