Tim Cahill
Nationality :
Australian
Squad No :
17
Position :
Midfielder
Birth Date :
Dec 6, 1979
Birthplace :
Sydney
Height :
1.78m
Weight :
65 kg
Sydney born Tim Cahill was David Moyes' second summer signing of the 2004/05 close season - after a move from Millwall, which he described as 'a dream come true'.
So determined was Tim to forge a career in professional football that he left behind family and friends in Australia at the age of 16, travelling halfway round the world to try his luck in England.
He has been well rewarded.
A forceful, strong running midfielder, he is remarkably good in the air for a player of only average height.
Tim made 250 appearances during his seven-year spell at the New Den, in which he scored a total of 57 goals. In his last season there, he made an FA Cup final appearance at the Millennium Stadium against Manchester United.
His international career began at the tender age of 14, when he represented Western Samoa, but since then he has become eligible to play for his native Australia and was called up to their 2004 Olympic team.
Tim wasted little time in proving his value to the national team as a goalscoring midfielder, grabbing five goals in his first two internationals and is highly rated by the Socceroos.
His first season in the Premier League saw him win the Player of the Season award at Goodison after finishing the campaign as top scorer.
That earned the Aussie international a new five-year deal in the summer of 2005.
He was, once again, a key figure for the side during the 2005/06 campaign. A knee injury sustained in April raised doubts about his availability for Australia in the World Cup but he was included in Guus Hiddink's squad for the tournament in Germany.
And he made a sensational impact, coming on as a substitute in Australia's group game with Japan to score twice and turn a 1-0 deficit into an eventual 3-1 win.
The Socceroos progressed from the group stage but were knocked out by Italy who would go on to win the tournament.
Apparently not fatigued, Cahill returned to Everton and began the season in sensational style, bagging seven goals before the end of October. He then injured his knee in a collision with Lee Carsley and didn't return until January 2007.
His return was shortlived, playing six matches before breaking his foot in the 1-1 draw at Sheffield United in March 2007. The injury ruled him out for the remainder of the season, although he was fit in time to return to the Australia squad for the Asia Cup.
During the summer of 2007 Tim returned from injury and played an intergral part in Australia's Asian Cup campaign. During the close season he put pen-to-paper on a five-year contract extension.
However, during the pre-season friendly with Werder Bremen, Cahill sustained another foot injury which kept him of the side until late October. He marked his return to action with a goal on his comeback appearance against Larissa in the Uefa Cup.
Cahill remained in splendid form, netting a memorable overhead kick to secure a draw against Chelsea.
Despite missing the final chunk of the campaign with a broken foot, the Aussie still finished with 10 goals.
He was the Club's leading scorer in 2008/09, finishing with nine goals, having been used as a striker during the Blues' much publicised Injury process.
Amongst his haul were vital goals at Anfield and Eastlands as well as home strikes against Arsenal and Aston Villa.
Cahill got to wear the captain's armband for part of the 2009/10 season when Phil Neville was injured and the Aussie also racked up his 50th Everton goal in January.
He finished the season strongly and among the goals before penning a new four year deal and heading to the World Cup with Australia.
Cahill did not have an entirely enjoyable tournament in South Africa, as he was sent off in the Socceroos' opening game for a challenge on German midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger as his side slipped to a 4-0 reverse.
The midfielder was suspended for the draw against Ghana, before returning to score in the final group game against Serbia to help Australia to a 2-1 win. Unfortunately the victory wasn't enough to stop them from going out of the competition at the group stage.
Cahill scored his 100th career goal against Birmingham City in October 2010. He then became Everton's leading post match league Merseyside derby scorer when netting in a 2-0 win over Liverpool.
A month later Cahill moved to yet another landmark by scoring his 50th Premier League in the 2-2 draw with Blackpool at Bloomfield Road. Cahill became the 71st player in Premier League to reach this milestone with a header against the Tangerines.
good facts
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