Ryan, just a teenager at the time, was best afield in Brisbane that day but was on the receiving end of the Roar's extraordinary comeback when they scored two goals in extra time to force a penalty shoot-out, one they ultimately won.

While Ryan ended up on the right side of history this time around after James Troisi's winner in the first period of extra time, the goalkeeper admitted Son Heung-min's equaliser in injury time brought a sickening feeling of deja vu. "It was obviously a bit heartbreaking. But you have to give credit to our team, how we handled going behind like that. It actually brought back memories of the Mariners' [2011] grand final," he said. "I did think of that out there. I thought "this can't happen again?" But you've got to credit us for the way we turned it around. You could have excused us if Korea took the momentum after that and our heads had have gone down.

"That's a credit to the way we play. But he boss has instilled a positive game, a passing game, we stuck by it and we got a reward for it at the end."

Such a perfectionist is the 22-year-old that he was even feeling slightly down about not keeping Son's shot out so close to the final whistle. "I was disappointed I couldn't make that big save there at the end to win the cup," he said. "It's part of being a goalkeeper. I try to keep my focus and what's asked of me. I just try to do my best."

Ryan was rewarded for an outstanding tournament by being named as the Asian Cup's best goalkeeper. "I've always said this one [the team trophy] is the most important one. Team accolades are the most important thing," he said. Obviously it's special also but for the team to achieve this, what we set out to do. It's a great time."

The Socceroos conceded just three goals in six games at the Asian Cup, a brilliant defensive display that Ryan said was a credit to the whole team, not just himself and the back four.

"It's not only them, it starts with everyone in the whole squad putting their putting ambitions behind them and putting the team first. When "Spira" [Matthew Spiranovic] was suspended "Wilko" [Alex Wilkinson] came in and did a great job. Likewise with the guys further forward," he said. "You've just got to complement everyone. We scrambled when we needed to. We scrambled well. We were organised when we needed to, for both the first and second balls. We were on top for the large majority of games and we've got this to show for it."

Although Ryan is starring for one of Belgium's best teams, Club Bruges, he's been linked with English giants Liverpool in recent times and may even attract interest from some of the world's biggest clubs after his brilliant month between the posts for Australia. It's been a meteoric rise for a player who was barely in the national frame a year ago but is now an Asian champion as well as being the first-choice for the Socceroos at last year's World Cup.

"I take a little bit of pride out of the fact that I've had a learning experience out of the past 12 months, from them to now," he said. "I just wanted to show Australia what I had to offer. I take a little bit of personal pride in how I was able to bring some form to the tournament and help the team lift the trophy."

Such a perfectionist is the 22-year-old that he was even feeling slightly down about not keeping Son's shot out so close to the final whistle.

"I was disappointed I couldn't make that big save there at the end to win the cup," he said. "It's part of being a goalkeeper. I try to keep my focus and what's asked of me. I just try to do my best."