Yasuhiko Okudera and Cha Bum-Kun showed the way in the late 70s and 80s, being among the first Asian footballers to ply their trade in Europe.

The generations thereafter, particularly those from Japan and South Korea, did well to establish themselves as one of the integral parts of their respective clubs in the well-known European leagues.

It was the 2002 Fifa World Cup, however, that turned out to be massive for Asian football. Co-hosting the competition, Japan and South Korea had both put up a commendable showing, with the Koreans going a step further by reaching the semi-final.

Since then, several top-flight clubs of Europe have been showing interest in the players of the two countries and benefited as well after roping quite a few of them. The promising players from the continent have grabbed the opportunities with both hands and more importantly, been able to create such a favourable situation for them, Japan striker Shinji Okazaki pointed out.

“Compared to previous years, more and more Asian players are coming to the European leagues and I think there are a lot more opportunities for them to be in that situation. For instance, Japanese children watch a lot of football, but that includes plenty of European league matches. That helps them gain a fair idea of how the game is in Europe,” Okazaki, who plays for Spanish club Huesca, said in response to a query from The Telegraph during a global conference organised by La Liga.

Talking further about the benefits for Asians if they get to play in English, German or the Spanish leagues, the World Cupper, who also played for Vfb Stuttgart, Mainz, Leicester City and Malaga, added: “Practically speaking, when you come to these leagues, you come across stuff you’ve never experienced before in terms of culture also, not just football itself.

“But if you are able to enjoy the environment here, you will really be able to leave a mark in these leagues.”

At the same time, players need to be having certain characteristics as well as mental strength to avoid getting rattled by the intense competition, Okazaki emphasised. “There’s fierce competition here, so you can’t just be a good player.

“You need to be having certain characteristics that stand out and you have to be in the thick of things. Because, that’s where you can work out where your biggest plus point is.

“Besides, if you’re mentally strong, that’s probably one of the best ways to survive in the European leagues and against the European players. People generally tend to be more critical of Asian players, but if these players go through the grind, they can jolly well survive and also shine,” the 34-year-old with 119 appearances and 50 goals for Japan, explained.