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Tim Cahill
Player
Profile
Timothy Joel Cahill (born December 6, 1979 in Sydney) is an
Australian midfield football player and plays for the Australia
national team and Everton. On June 12, 2006 he made history by
scoring the first two goals by an Australian in a FIFA World Cup
finals match against Japan; both goals came within the last 6
minutes bringing Australia from 0-1 to 2-1.
Cahill was born to a Samoan mother and English father, and was
encouraged to play soccer. He was educated at Bexley North Public
School and Kingsgrove North High School
Tim Cahill played soccer for Balmain Police Boys Club when he was
a child.
In 1997, he begged his parents to take him to England to play
professionally. In the 2003-2004 season, Tim Cahill was the
workhorse in Millwall's heroic campaign which led Millwall to the
FA Cup final for the first time in their history and a UEFA Cup
place. Cahill made 250 appearances for The Lions, scoring 57
goals. Before the start of the 2004-2005 season, Cahill signed
for Everton (after a move to Millwall's south London rivals
Crystal Palace fell through, when Palace Chairman Simon Jordan
refused to pay his agent's fee), for whom he has become a top
player and earned respect throughout the Premiership.
Cahill's transition into
the Premiership was seamless. In his first season Cahill scored
12 goals, an excellent return from a midfielder. He finished the
2004/5 campaign as fan's player of the season as Everton romped
into Champion's League qualifying stage ahead of rivals
Liverpool. He was renowned for his late surging runs, ghosting
headers, and willingness to run and work for the team. He also
scored a superb volley against nearest rivals Liverpool, in a
match Everton lost 2-1. In August 2005 Cahill's contract at
Everton was extended on improved terms reflecting the impact he
had made at the club.
On the 18th of January 2006, Cahill had the good grace not to
celebrate his winning goal for Everton against Millwall in the
3rd round replay of the FA Cup, stating, "They gave me my
big break, it would have been like kicking them in the
teeth."
The midfielder only made his debut for the Australian national
team in 2004, as a result of his having played for Samoa at
Under-20 level at the age of 14. His Australia debut was against
South Africa in June of that year. He participated at the 2004
Olympic Games. Tim was named Oceania Footballer of the Year for
2004, joining Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton, Christian
Karembeu and Mark Bosnich among some of the past winners of the
award, which has existed since 1988. On 16 November 2005 at
Sydney's Telstra Stadium, Cahill played a full game as the
Socceroos defeated Uruguay and qualified for the 2006 FIFA World
Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out. As at the 13th June 2006
Cahill had 11 goals from just 17 appearances, making him
Australia's most prolific midfielder. This stat is made all the
more impressive by the fact many of his 17 appearances have been
as a substitute.
After Japan led 1-0 for the
majority of the game through a controversial Shunsuke Nakamura
goal, Cahill, who was a second half substitute for Marco
Bresciano, scored a goal to bring Australia level in the 84th
minute, and a second goal from outside the box in the 89th minute
to put the Socceroos in the lead. John Aloisi topped off the
victory with a goal in the 92nd minute off an assist from Cahill.
Tim Cahill was the first Australian to ever score in a World Cup
Finals game and he is also Australia's first Man of the Match at
a World Cup.
Tim Cahill also played in the Brazil game where they lost 2-0 and
the Croatia game where they drew 2-2 ensuring a place in the 2nd
round. They faced Italy and Cahill played all 90 minutes where it
was 0-0 until the end of the game where Italy won a controversial
penalty which was converted sending Australia out of the
competition.
