Tim Cahill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tim Cahill
AO

Cahill in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1979-12-06) 6 December 1979 (age 45)
Place of birth	Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Height	1.78 m
Playing position	Attacking 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)
National team
1994	Western Samoa U20	2	(0)
2004	Australia Olympic (O.P.)	4	(3)
2004–2018	Australia	108	(50)
Honours Men's football Representing  Australia AFC Asian Cup Winner 2015 Australia Runner-up 2011 Qatar OFC Nations Cup Winner 2004 Australia
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Timothy Filiga Cahill (born 6 December 1979) is an Australian former professional soccer player. He mostly played as an attacking midfielder. He also often played as a striker. Cahill was known for his strong play and his amazing ability to head the ball.

He scored 50 goals in 108 games for Australia between 2004 and 2018. Many people think he is one of Australia's best soccer players ever. Today, he works as a sports expert for BBC Sport and Sky Sports.

In 1997, Cahill moved from Sydney to England to play soccer professionally. He joined Millwall for free from Sydney United. He helped Millwall win a league title in 2000–01. He also played a big part in Millwall reaching the 2004 FA Cup Final.

Before the 2004–05 season, Cahill moved to Everton. In his first year, he was named Everton's Player of the Season. The next year, he was nominated for the Ballon d'Or, a huge award in soccer. He was the first Everton player in 11 years to get this nomination. He also helped Everton reach the final of the 2008–09 FA Cup.

After leaving Everton in 2012, Cahill played for several clubs. These included the New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua, Hangzhou Greentown, and Melbourne City. He briefly returned to Millwall before ending his career at Jamshedpur.

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

Early Life and Soccer Beginnings

Cahill was born in Sydney, Australia, on 6 December 1979. He was the third of four children. His older brothers were Sean and Dorothy, and his younger brother was Chris. His father, Tim Cahill Sr, was from England and Ireland. His mother, Sisifo, was mostly from Samoa. Her family held important chief positions in Samoa.

Cahill's family loved soccer. He played all the time with his brothers. He watched Premier League games with his father. During holidays, he visited family in Australia and Samoa. There, he played rugby with his cousins. Some of them became professional rugby players.

His father took him and his brothers to soccer training every week. This helped Cahill become very disciplined. His grandmother, Asofa, also taught him important Samoan values. These included hard work and never giving up. These lessons stayed with him throughout his life.

When he was seven, Cahill started private coaching. His coach, John Doyle, helped him a lot. Cahill played for junior clubs like Balmain Police Tigers. He often played in older age groups. This was because his older brother was a year older. Playing together saved his parents money on travel.

Teachers at school doubted Cahill's dream. They said he was too small to be a professional soccer player. Cahill later said this was the best thing anyone ever told him. He thanked those who doubted him.

Cahill joined the youth team of Sydney Olympic. He also worked as a ball boy for the main team. This made him want to play for the club even more. After five years, he was released because a coach thought he was too small. This made him sad, but he joined the NSW Institute of Sport. There, he worked on his speed and strength.

He then joined Belmore Hercules. He played so well that he was moved to the first team. At 15, he became the youngest player to play for the club. He scored his first goal with a header. He ended the season as the top scorer across three teams. Then, he joined Sydney United. He made his senior debut there in March 1997.

Cahill's parents helped him move to England. They took out a $10,000 loan to pay for his trip. This made his family almost broke. His older brother had to stop playing soccer and work to help pay off the debt. Cahill arrived in England in late 1997.

Club Career Highlights

Millwall Success (1998–2004)

Cahill moved to Grays, Essex and soon signed with Millwall. He joined them for free from Sydney United. His first game for Millwall was on 2 May 1998.

He helped Millwall win the Football League Second Division title in the 2000–01 season. They earned a club record 93 points. Cahill was also key to Millwall's journey to the 2004 FA Cup Final. This was the first time in the club's history they reached this final. He scored the winning goal in the semi-final against Sunderland. This win also helped Millwall get a spot in the UEFA Cup.

Cahill's last game for Millwall was the FA Cup final. They lost 3–0 to Manchester United. He played 249 games for Millwall and scored 56 goals.

Everton Years (2004–2012)

Tim Cahill training with Everton in April 2009

Before the 2004–05 season, Cahill moved to Everton. The transfer fee was about £1.5 million. In his first season, he scored the most goals for Everton. Fans also voted him Player of the Season.

In October 2006, Cahill was nominated for the Ballon d'Or. This award is for the best player in the world. He was the first Everton player in 18 years to be nominated. He was also the only player from an AFC country on the list. He signed a new five-year contract after the 2006–07 season.

Cahill scored his 100th career goal against Arsenal in January 2009. On 15 February, he scored a goal against Aston Villa. He dedicated this goal to the victims of the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

Cahill sometimes played as a temporary forward when other players were injured. He scored a late goal in the Merseyside Derby against Liverpool. This made him the first player since Dixie Dean to score for Everton in three derbies at Anfield.

Everton fans called him "Tiny Tim" because he was not very tall. His goal celebration became famous. He would pretend to box with the corner flag. He also put the Everton badge in his teeth. In 2008, he apologized for a celebration where he crossed his wrists. This was a reference to his brother's jailing. He dedicated a goal in a Europa League game to victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Samoa. He mimed rowing a canoe after scoring.

Cahill made his 200th appearance for Everton in April 2010. He signed a new four-year contract the next month. He scored his 50th Premier League goal in November 2010. He had a long goal drought after the 2011 Asia Cup. He finally scored again in January 2012.

On 13 May 2012, Cahill was sent off in his last game for Everton. This happened after an argument with another player. After eight years, Cahill thanked Everton and its fans. He said it was a hard decision to leave.

New York Red Bulls (2012–2015)

Cahill with the New York Red Bulls in May 2013

On 26 July 2012, Cahill joined the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer. He made his debut the next month. On 20 October 2013, Cahill set a new record. He scored the fastest goal in MLS history. It took him only eight seconds in a game against the Houston Dynamo. He left the Red Bulls in February 2015.

Playing in Asia and Australia (2015–2017)

After leaving New York, Cahill signed with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua. He debuted for them in March 2015. He also played in the Chinese FA Cup final. In February 2016, he left Shanghai Shenhua.

He then joined 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.

On 11 August 2016, Cahill signed with A-League club Melbourne City. He planned to play for two years and then become a coach. He scored a spectacular goal in his first A-League game. It was a volley from 35 metres out. On 30 November, Cahill scored a header in the 2016 FFA Cup Final. Melbourne City won their first trophy.

On 6 December 2017, Cahill left Melbourne City. He wanted more playing time to help him get picked for the Australian World Cup squad.

Return to Millwall and Retirement (2018–2019)

On 29 January 2018, Cahill rejoined Millwall. This was his first professional club. He played for their under-23 team and scored a goal. A week later, he made his second debut for Millwall. He received a standing ovation from the fans.

He left Millwall at the end of the 2017–18 season. He had played one more league game for Millwall than for Everton.

On 1 September 2018, Cahill signed with Indian Super League club Jamshedpur. He scored his first goal for the club in a draw with Kerala Blasters. He retired from football on 28 March 2019.

International Career for Australia

Early International Play (1994–2004)

Cahill was born in Sydney, but he lived in Western Samoa for three years as a child. The Football Federation Samoa invited him to play for their country's under-20 team in 1994. He made his debut for them at age 14. He played alongside his older brother Sean. His younger brother Chris later became captain of Samoa's main national team.

In 2003, FIFA changed its rules. This allowed players who played for a country at junior levels to switch to another country. Cahill chose to play for Australia, the country where he was born. He called it a "special moment."

Cahill made his debut for Australia on 30 March 2004. This was in a friendly game against South Africa. He then played in the 2004 Olympic Games.

Winning the OFC Nations Cup (2004)

Cahill played in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup. He scored six goals, making him the second-highest scorer. Australia won the competition. This win helped Australia play against Uruguay to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Cahill played in this game. Australia won after a penalty shootout. This meant they qualified for the World Cup for the first time in over 30 years.

Cahill also helped Australia reach the quarter-finals of the men's football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He scored one goal in a 5–1 win. After his great performances, Cahill was named Oceania Footballer of the Year for 2004.

World Cup Appearances (2006, 2010, 2014)

Cahill played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In Australia's first game against Japan, he made history. He became the first Australian to score a World Cup goal. He scored a second goal in the same game. He was named the best player of that match.

Cahill with Australia in 2009

Cahill was very important in Australia qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He scored goals in big games against Qatar and Japan.

In the 2010 World Cup, Cahill received a red card in the first game against Germany. This meant he missed the next game. He played in the final group game against Serbia and scored. After this tournament, Cahill had scored three World Cup goals. This was a national record.

Cahill scored three goals during the 2014 World Cup qualifying games. Australia reached the finals for the third time in a row. On 5 March 2014, he became Australia's all-time top goalscorer with 31 goals. He scored twice in a friendly game against Ecuador.

Cahill scored Australia's only goal in their first game of the 2014 World Cup against Chile. He joined a special group of players who scored in three World Cups (2006, 2010, and 2014). On 18 June, Cahill scored Australia's first goal against the Netherlands. Many experts called this one of the best goals ever scored in a World Cup.

Asian Cup Victory and Retirement (2015–2018)

Cahill was part of the squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Australia hosted this tournament. Cahill played very well and scored three goals. Australia won their first ever Asian Cup title.

Cahill at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Cahill helped Australia reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He scored two goals against Syria in a play-off game. One of these was the winning goal in extra time. On 15 November 2017, he played in the win against Honduras. This game secured Australia's spot in the 2018 World Cup.

In May 2018, Cahill was named in the World Cup squad. He played once in the tournament. He came off the bench in a 2–0 loss against Peru.

On 16 July 2018, Cahill announced he was retiring from international soccer. He later decided to play one last friendly game at home. This was against Lebanon in November 2018. He retired with 50 goals for Australia. This is a national team record. He played 108 games, which is the second-highest number for Australia.

Personal Life and Other Work

Cahill in 2008

In 2009, Cahill started two soccer academies. One was in Australia, and another was in Dubai.

Cahill has been featured in EA Sports' FIFA video games. He has also been on the cover of some editions of the game.

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

Cahill works closely with the UNICEF children's charity.

In 2021, Cahill joined the board of directors for K.A.S. Eupen, a football club. In 2022, he became a sports executive for the Extreme E racing series. In 2024, he became a personal advisor to Tunku Ismail Idris, the Regent of Johor, on sports matters.

Career Statistics

Tim Cahill playing for Everton on 15 December 2007

Club Appearances and Goals

International Appearances and Goals

Honours and Awards

In 2021, Cahill was given a special award called an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for his great service to soccer and to charity. In 2023, he was added to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

In June 2013, a highway in Sydney was temporarily renamed the Tim Cahill Expressway. This was to honor him before a big World Cup qualifying match.

Millwall

• Football League Second Division: 2000–01
• 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

Shanghai Shenhua

• Chinese FA Cup runner-up: 2015

Melbourne City

• FFA Cup: 2016

Australia

• AFC Asian Cup: 2015; runner-up, 2011
• OFC Nations Cup: 2004

Individual Awards

• Oceania Footballer of the Year: 2004
• PFA Team of the Year: 2000–01 (Second Division), 2003–04 (First Division)
• AFC Asian Cup Goal of the tournament: 2015
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the tournament: 2015
• A-League Goal of the Year: 2016–17
• Australian Professional Football Association Player of the Year: 2008–09
• Australia's greatest ever team: 2012
• MLS Best XI: 2013
• MLS All-Stars: 2014
• Best MLS Player ESPY Award: 2014
• FIFA World Cup Man of the Match
  • 2006: vs Japan
  • 2010: vs Serbia
• 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
• Ballon d'Or: 2006 (Nominee)
• FIFA Puskás Award nominee: 2014

Achievements and Records

• First Australian to score at the World Cup Finals.
• First Australian to score at the Asian Cup Finals.
• First Australian to win a FIFA World Cup Man of the Match award.
• First Australian to score at three FIFA World Cups: 2006, 2010, 2014.
• Holds the record for 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 Neville Southall in 1988 to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or.
• First Everton player since Dixie Dean in 1931 to score in three separate Merseyside derbies at Anfield.
• Has scored more post-war league goals against Liverpool than any other Everton player.
• Holds the record for scoring the fastest goal in MLS history (8 seconds).

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