Eleven years, eight clubs and six countries after winning his first A-League title with Sydney FC, David Carney is on the verge of a second.
Carney had only just made his Socceroos debut when the then 22-year-old started the inaugural Grand Final in 2006, a 1-0 win over Central Coast at Allianz Stadium.
Now 33 and in the twilight of his career, the veteran utility will sit on the bench at the same venue for Sunday's A-League season-decider, when Graham Arnold's Sky Blues take on Melbourne Victory.
"It's surreal a bit, to think I played in one right at the start of my career and now another one as I come to the end of it," Carney said.
"The first 20 minutes [in 2006] we started off very slowly ... I don't think I was the greatest myself.
"It took a good run to get into the game, and sometimes you need that as a kid. You want to start off well but you might need a bit of fortune to go your way.
"I started that one, this time I just have to be there for the boys and if I do make an impact, hopefully it's a good one.
"I seem to do well against Victory so I'm glad it's against them."
Carney has more stamps on his passport than most footballers and has racked up more Socceroos caps than he has at any one of his 13 clubs.
Since leaving Sydney in 2007 he's done stints throughout Europe, Asia and the United States, including winning the 2009-10 Dutch Eredivisie title with FC Twente and playing in the Premier League with Ian Holloway's Blackpool.
He hopes the vast experience can be of service to Sydney's younger players.
"With big finals, like this week, experience is vital," Carney said.
"You want the young ones to do what they do and not get fazed by it all.
#INSERT type:image caption: David Carney, centre, was part of the Sydney FC side that won the inaugural A-League championship in 2006. END#
"They've got the workrate, they just need to go about the game in the normal way.
"The build-up to a game like this can sometimes take a toll but we must just play our normal game.
"That's what's positive about this team, we like to press and fight straight from the start -- that will work to our advantage."
Carney comes off contract at season's end and, while enjoying his Sky Blues homecoming, hinted he'd like more game time than the seven starts he's been given this season.
"I'll speak to the club after this game, we're just focused on that now. Myself and the management will speak then," he said.
"I feel at 33 I've got a lot to offer, I'm hardly injured and I'm reliable. I think I can give a lot more."