A FORMER Socceroo's life started to unravel and sunk to the depths of drug use and gun possession when he wasn't selected for the 2006 World Cup team, a court heard.

Ahmad Elrich, 32, appeared in the District Court yesterday to be sentenced, almost two years after he was caught with a loaded pistol in a street in Granville.

Giving evidence, Elrich's sister Nasrin Elrich, said he went from a star soccer player and role model to taking the drug ice in the bathroom of their family home.

"He was like our everything ... he used to be such a great role model, we used to be so proud of him," she said.

But she told the court that when he wasn't chosen for the World Cup team and he realised his career was at its end, he turned to drugs. "From that day, he wasn't the same Ahmad," she said.

Elrich admitted three counts of illegally carrying a pistol in May 2011, and possessing the erectile dysfunction drug Cialis, which police said he did not have a prescription for. He has been in custody since November 2011.

Former Australian goalkeeper Mark Bosnich told the court he should have reached out to his former teammate, the ABC reported.

Mr Bosnich, who reflected on his own history of cocaine addiction, told the court self-destructive behaviour was not uncommon for players at the end of their career.

"I can sympathise with the defendant," Mr Bosnich said.

He said he felt a "measure of guilt" he did not reach out to Elrich when he noticed who he was associating with.

Elrich played 17 games for Australia. He will be sentenced this month.