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Former Socceroo Brett Holman is taking court action claiming he is owed money by Brisbane Roar after the club was paid insurance money for an injury in 2018.

Former Socceroo Brett Holman has taken Brisbane Roar to court over an insurance claim paid after a knee injury left him unable to play professional football again.

The Roar received an insurance payout of almost $370,000 after Holman was injured.

The club paid the player just under $200,000, but says that was what he was entitled to in terms of his contract.

Holman's counsel argued in a Brisbane District Court trial on Thursday that he is owed all or more of the insurance payout.

Holman was playing for the Roar in an A-League match against Perth Glory in WA in April 2018 when he injured his knee in the first half, coming off in the 27th minute.

Initial scans appeared to show no structural damage and Holman signed a further contract with the Roar, expecting to be back on the field after six weeks.

But he never played again despite remaining on the Roar's books until his retirement the following year.

Judge Bernard Porter was told Holman was first signed up by the club in September 2016.

He was given a two-year deal with an annual salary of $372,300, the trial was told.

Barrister Matthew Doyle said Holman was a holder of a professional sports group insurance policy, the terms of which are central to the court action.

But the Roar's counsel Matthew Jones argued the policy benefit also extended to the club, which was only required to pay Holman according to his contract.

"(Holman) has received from Brisbane Roar the whole of his contractual salary entitlements," he said.

Judge Porter described the Arch insurance company's policy documents as "appallingly ambiguous", saying various bits and pieces were put together and labelled as an accident policy.

"No one with any skill in the construing of commercial documents has read it before it was signed off," he added.

Holman played 63 times for the Socceroos including being a part of the 2010 World Cup squad.

His playing career included stints in Holland, a short period at English Premier League club Aston Villa and time in the United Arab Emirates as well as in the A-League.

Judge Porter has reserved his decision.