Tim Cahill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tim Cahill
AO

Cahill in 2024
Personal information
Full name	Timothy Filiga Cahill
Date of birth	(1979-12-06) 6 December 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s)	midfielder, forward
Youth career
1995–1997	Sydney Olympic FC
1997	Sydney United
1997–1998	Millwall
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1998–2004	Millwall	217	(52)
2004–2012	Everton	226	(56)
2012–2015	New York Red Bulls	62	(14)
2015–2016	Shanghai Shenhua	28	(11)
2016	Hangzhou Greentown	17	(4)
2016–2017	Melbourne City	27	(11)
2018	Millwall	10	(0)
2018–2019	Jamshedpur	12	(2)
Total		599	(150)
International career
1994	Western Samoa U20	2	(0)
2004	Australia Olympic (O.P.)	4	(3)
2004–2018	Australia	108	(50)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Australia AFC Asian Cup Winner 2015 Australia Runner-up 2011 Qatar OFC Nations Cup Winner 2004 Australia
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Timothy Filiga Cahill is an Australian former professional soccer player. He was born on December 6, 1979. Tim usually played as an attacking midfielder but also often played as a striker. He was known for his strong play and amazing ability to head the ball into the goal.

Cahill scored 50 goals in 108 games for Australia between 2004 and 2018. Many people consider him one of Australia's greatest soccer players ever. Today, he works as a sports commentator for BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

In 1997, Tim left Sydney to play professional soccer in England. He joined Millwall for free from Sydney United. He helped Millwall win a league title in 2000–01 and reach the 2004 FA Cup Final. Before the 2004–05 season, Cahill moved to Everton. He was named Everton's Player of the Season in his first year. The next year, he was even nominated for the Ballon d'Or, a huge award in soccer. He also helped Everton reach the 2008–09 FA Cup final. After leaving Everton in 2012, Cahill played for several clubs around the world, including the New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua, Hangzhou Greentown, and Melbourne City. He finished his career at Jamshedpur after a short return to Millwall.

Cahill was the first Australian to score a goal at a FIFA World Cup. He scored in three different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014) and holds the record for most World Cup goals by an Australian man, with five goals. In 2007, he also became the first Australian to score at an AFC Asian Cup. Tim was famous for his amazing heading skills and how high he could jump. He often scored goals with his head. He was also well-known for his special goal celebration: he would pretend to box the corner flag.

Early Life and Soccer Beginnings

Tim Cahill was born in Sydney, Australia, on December 6, 1979. He was the third of four children. His father was from England and Ireland, and his mother was mainly from Samoa. His mother worked two jobs to support the family after his father was injured. Because of money struggles, Tim's family moved often.

Growing up, Tim loved soccer. He played all the time with his brothers, Sean and Chris. He also watched Premier League matches with his father. During holidays, he visited family in Australia and Samoa and played rugby. His father took him and his brothers to soccer practice every week. Tim learned discipline and a desire to be perfect from these sessions. His Samoan grandmother, Asofa, also taught him important values like hard work and perseverance. When he was seven, Tim started private coaching with a retired Irish-Australian player named John Doyle, who helped him a lot.

Youth Clubs and Challenges

From age four, Tim played for several junior clubs like Balmain Police Tigers and Marrickville Red Devil. He often played in older age groups with his brother. He also played futsal with friends. In high school, teachers doubted he could become a professional soccer player because he was small. Tim later said this motivated him even more.

Tim joined the youth team of Sydney Olympic. He was a ball boy for the main team, which made him dream of playing for them. After five years, Sydney Olympic released him because a coach thought he was too small and slow. This made him sad, but he joined the NSW Institute of Sport to get faster and stronger. He then played for Belmore Hercules, where he impressed everyone. At 15, he became the youngest player to play for the club's senior team, scoring his first goal with a header. He was the top goalscorer across all youth and senior teams that season, with 30 goals. Next, he joined Sydney United's under-21 team.

Moving to England

Tim's parents offered him a chance to move to England to play soccer. His father called a talent scout from Nottingham Forest for trials. After thinking about it, Tim agreed. His parents took out a $10,000 loan to pay for his trip. This loan made his family almost broke, and his older brother had to stop playing soccer to work full-time to help pay it back. Tim arrived in England in late 1997.

Club Career Highlights

Millwall Success

Tim lived with family in England until Millwall signed him for free from Sydney United. He made his debut for Millwall on May 2, 1998. He helped Millwall reach the 1999 Football League Trophy Final, though they lost.

He was a key player when Millwall won the Football League Second Division championship in the 2000–01 season. He also helped them reach the play-off semi-finals twice. Tim was a huge part of Millwall's journey to the 2004 FA Cup Final, which was their first time in the final. He scored the winning goal in the semi-final against Sunderland. This also earned them a spot in the UEFA Cup. Fans voted him "Player of the Round" for his semi-final performance. His last game for Millwall was the FA Cup final against Manchester United, which they lost 3–0. Cahill played 249 games for Millwall and scored 56 goals.

Everton Years

Tim Cahill training with Everton in April 2009

Before the 2004–05 season, Cahill moved to Everton for £1.5 million. In his first season, he was Everton's top goalscorer and was named the fans' Player of the Season. His contract was extended the next year because of his great impact. In the FA Cup, Everton played against his old club, Millwall. He scored the winning goal in the replay but chose not to celebrate. He said he wanted to show respect to the club that gave him his start.

In October 2006, Cahill was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Everton player in 18 years to receive this honor. He missed much of the 2006–07 season due to injuries. However, he signed a new five-year contract at the end of that season.

Cahill returned from injury in October 2007, scoring a diving header in a UEFA Cup match. He scored his 100th career goal against Arsenal in January 2009. In February, he dedicated a goal to the victims of the 2009 Victorian bushfires in Australia. During the 2008–09 season, he often played in different positions because many teammates were injured.

In the 2009–10 season, Cahill became Everton's temporary captain. He scored his 50th goal for Everton in an FA Cup game. Everton fans nicknamed him "Tiny Tim" because he was a bit shorter and slimmer. His famous celebration involved pretending to box the corner flag. In 2008, he apologized for a gesture he made after scoring, which was related to a family matter. He also dedicated a goal in a Europa League game to the victims of an earthquake and tsunami in Samoa.

Cahill scored many goals with his head. In April 2010, he scored two headers against Aston Villa. He made his 200th appearance for Everton in April 2010 and signed a new contract. He scored his fifth goal in a Merseyside Derby against Liverpool in October 2010. He also scored his 50th Premier League goal a month later. After the 2011 Asian Cup, Cahill had a long period without scoring, but he finally ended it in January 2012.

On May 13, 2012, in Everton's last match of the season, Cahill was sent off after the game for an argument. After eight years, he left Everton, thanking the club and fans.

Adventures Abroad

Cahill with the New York Red Bulls in May 2013

On July 26, 2012, Cahill joined the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States. He made his MLS debut the next month. On October 20, 2013, Cahill set a new record for the fastest goal in MLS history, scoring just eight seconds into a game! He left the Red Bulls in February 2015.

After that, Cahill signed with the Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. He played his first game for them in March 2015. Shanghai Shenhua also reached the Chinese FA Cup final. In February 2016, he left Shanghai Shenhua.

He then signed with another Chinese club, Hangzhou Greentown, in February 2016. He scored a penalty in his first game for them. He decided to return to Australia for his family in the summer of 2016 and left the club in July.

Return to Australia and Final Clubs

On August 11, 2016, Cahill signed a three-year contract with A-League club Melbourne City. He planned to play for two years and then take on a coaching role. He made his debut in the FFA Cup in August. In his second game, he scored and assisted a goal. He made his A-League debut in a Melbourne Derby and scored a spectacular goal from 35 meters out. Melbourne City won the match 4–1. On November 30, Cahill scored a header in the 2016 FFA Cup Final, helping the club win its first trophy.

In February 2017, Cahill was sent off before even entering the field as a substitute! This was because he argued angrily with a referee. This was the first time this had happened in Australian soccer history. On December 6, 2017, Cahill left Melbourne City to get more playing time and improve his chances for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

On January 29, 2018, Cahill rejoined his first professional club, Millwall, until the end of the season. He even scored a goal for their under-23 team. A week later, he made his second debut for Millwall, coming on as a substitute to a huge cheer from the fans. He left Millwall at the end of the 2017–18 season.

On September 1, 2018, Cahill signed with the Indian Super League club Jamshedpur. He scored his first goal for the club in a draw against Kerala Blasters. In February 2019, he got a finger injury and missed the rest of the season. On March 28, 2019, Tim Cahill announced his retirement from professional soccer.

International Career for Australia

Early International Play

Even though he was born in Sydney, Tim Cahill lived in Western Samoa for three years as a child. When he was 14, the Football Federation Samoa invited him to play for their under-20 team in 1994. He made his debut for Western Samoa in a 3–0 loss against New Zealand. His older brother Sean was also on the team. His younger brother Chris later became captain of Samoa's senior national team.

In 2002, Cahill was offered a chance to play for the Republic of Ireland because he had Irish grandparents. However, he couldn't because he had already played for Samoa. In 2003, FIFA changed its rules, allowing players who had played for a country at a junior level to switch their national team. This meant Cahill could play for England, Australia, the Republic of Ireland, or Samoa. He chose to represent Australia, the country where he was born, calling it a "special moment."

Representing Australia

Cahill warming up before a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Qatar, in Brisbane, on October 15, 2008

Cahill made his debut for Australia in a friendly game against South Africa on March 30, 2004. He then played in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

2004 OFC Nations Cup

Cahill played in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup for Australia. He was the second-highest scorer in the competition with six goals. Australia won the tournament, which helped them qualify for a play-off game for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Cahill played in this play-off game, where Australia beat Uruguay in a penalty shootout. This meant Australia qualified for the World Cup for the first time in over 30 years! After his great performances, Cahill was named Oceania Footballer of the Year for 2004.

World Cup Appearances

Cahill played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In Australia's first game against Japan, he became the first Australian ever to score a World Cup goal. He scored a second goal in the same game and was named "man of the match." Australia reached the "round of 16" but lost to Italy.

Cahill was very important in helping Australia qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, scoring key goals against Qatar and Japan. In the World Cup, he received a red card in the opening game against Germany, which meant he missed the next match. He scored in the final group match against Serbia. After this tournament, Cahill had scored three FIFA World Cup goals, which was a national record.

Cahill scored three goals during the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign, helping Australia reach their third World Cup in a row. On March 5, 2014, he became Australia's all-time top goalscorer with 31 goals. He scored Australia's only goal in their opening game against Chile at the 2014 World Cup. He joined a special group of players who had scored in three different World Cups (2006, 2010, 2014). On June 18, he scored Australia's first goal against the Netherlands, a goal that many experts called one of the best ever scored in a World Cup.

Asian Cup and Retirement

Cahill was part of the Australian team that hosted and won the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He scored three goals in the tournament, helping his nation win their first Asian Cup title.

Cahill at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

In March 2016, Cahill scored two goals against Jordan. He also scored the winning goal for Australia against the United Arab Emirates. He helped Australia reach the play-offs for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, scoring two goals, including the winning goal in extra time, against Syria. On November 15, 2017, he started in the win over Honduras, which secured Australia's spot in the 2018 World Cup.

In May 2018, Cahill was named in the World Cup squad. He made one appearance in the tournament, coming off the bench against Peru. On July 16, 2018, Cahill announced he was retiring from international soccer. However, he played one final home friendly game against Lebanon in November 2018. He retired with 50 goals, which is a national record, in 108 games.

Personal Life and Other Work

Cahill in 2008

Tim Cahill has been involved with soccer academies in Australia and Dubai. He has also been featured in the EA Sports' FIFA video game series and has been on the cover of some editions.

In 2010, Cahill married his childhood sweetheart, Rebekah Greenfield. They have four children: Kyah, Shae, Sienna, and Cruz. As of 2015, the Cahills owned homes in several places around the world.

Cahill is very involved with UNICEF, a charity that helps children. In June 2013, a road in Sydney, the Cahill Expressway, was temporarily renamed the Tim Cahill Expressway in his honor. This was before a World Cup qualifying match.

Tim Cahill has also had a successful business career in many different areas. He lived in New Jersey while playing for the New York Red Bulls. In 2019, he became an ambassador for ACY Securities, a financial company. In 2021, Cahill joined the board of directors for a soccer club called K.A.S. Eupen. In 2022, he became a sporting executive for an international off-road racing series called Extreme E. In 2024, he was named a personal advisor to the Regent of Johor, Malaysia, for sports and international relations.

Career Statistics

Club

International

Honours and Awards

Tim Cahill won many awards and trophies throughout his career:

Millwall

• Football League Second Division: 2000–01 (Champions)
• FA Cup runner-up: 2003–04
• Football League Trophy runner-up: 1998–99

Everton

• FA Cup runner-up: 2008–09

New York Red Bulls

• MLS Supporter's Shield: 2013 (Best regular season record)

Shanghai Shenhua

• Chinese FA Cup runner-up: 2015

Melbourne City

• Australia Cup (FFA Cup): 2016 (Champions)

Australia National Team

• AFC Asian Cup: 2015 (Champions); 2011 (Runner-up)
• OFC Nations Cup: 2004 (Champions)

Individual Awards

• Ballon d'Or (nominee): 2006 (One of the top players in the world)
• FIFA Puskás Award (nominee): 2014 (For best goal of the year)
• Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2004 (Best player in Oceania)
• Professional Footballers Australia Men's Footballer of the Year: 2008–09
• FIFA World Cup Man of the Match: 2006 (vs Japan), 2010 (vs Serbia)
• AFC Asian Cup Goal of the tournament: 2015
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the tournament: 2015
• PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 (Second Division), 2003–04 (First Division)
• Everton Player of the Season: 2004–05
• Everton Players' Player of the Season: 2004–05
• Everton Top Goalscorer of the Season: 2004–05
• New York Red Bulls Most Valuable Player: 2013
• New York Red Bulls Goal of the Year: 2013
• New York Red Bulls Golden boot: 2013
• MLS Best XI: 2013 (One of the best players in MLS)
• MLS All-Stars: 2014
• A-League Goal of the Year: 2016–17
• Australia's Greatest Ever Team: 2012
• Football Australia Team of the Century
• Sport Australia Hall of Fame: 2023

Achievements

• First Australian to score at the World Cup Finals.
• First Australian to score at the Asian Cup Finals.
• First Australian to receive a FIFA World Cup Man of the Match award.
• First Australian to score at three FIFA World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014.
• Most Goals by an Australian at the Asian Cup Finals.
• Australia's oldest ever goalscorer: (37 years and 308 days) goals against Syria in 2017.
• First Everton player since 1988 to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
• First Everton player since 1931 to score in three separate Merseyside derbies at Anfield.
• Holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in MLS history (8 seconds).

Orders

• Officer of the Order of Australia (AO): 2021 (A high honor in Australia)

See also

In Spanish: Tim Cahill para niños

• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
• List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals
• List of Australia international soccer players