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Timothy Filiga Cahill (; born 6 December 1979) is an Australian former professional football player who played as an attacking midfielder but also played as a striker on many occasions. A box-to-box midfielder, Cahill became recognised for "his aggressive and powerful approach and his ability to head the ball in the penalty area". Cahill has scored 50 goals in 108 caps between 2004 and 2018 and is regarded as one of the greatest Australian Football players of all time. He currently works as a pundit for BBC Sport and Sky Sports.
In 1997, Cahill left Sydney for England to play professionally; there he was signed by Millwall on a free transfer from Sydney United. He was part of the Millwall side that won the Football League Second Division title in the 2000–01 season, and was also a central part of Millwall's run to the 2004 FA Cup Final. Before the start of the 2004–05 season, Cahill was transferred to Premier League club Everton. He was named both Everton Player of the Season and Everton Players' Player of the Season in his debut season, and in the following year he was named as one of 50 nominees for the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Everton player in 11 years to be nominated. He was also part of the Everton side that reached the final of the 2008–09 FA Cup. After leaving Everton in 2012, Cahill played for the New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer and Chinese Super League sides Shanghai Shenhua and Hangzhou Greentown, before returning to Australia to play for Melbourne City in the A-League Men. After a brief spell at former club Millwall, he ended his career in the Indian Super League with Jamshedpur FC.
Cahill was the first Australian to score at a FIFA World Cup, scored in three World Cups (2006, 2010, and 2014) and has scored the most goals by any Australian in the men's World Cup with five goals. In 2007, he became the first Australian player to score at an AFC Asian Cup. Cahill is known for his adept heading ability and high vertical leap, having scored many of his goals with his head. He is famous for his regular goal celebration of shadow boxing around the corner flag.
Growing up in a soccer-loving family, Cahill developed a passion for the sport from an early age, playing constantly with his brothers, Sean and Chris, and watching Premier League matches on TV with his father, who is a West Ham fan from his upbringing in London. However, during the holidays, Cahill frequently visited family in Australia and Samoa where he played Rugby football with his cousins, including Frank Winterstein and Ben Roberts, both of whom became professional rugby players. His father took him and his brothers, Sean and Chris, to soccer training in a local park every week, where Cahill developed a discipline and a perfectionist personality over time. Though his biggest influence came from his maternal grandmother, Asofa, who taught him the Samoan culture and beliefs of discipline, hard work, and perseverance – something Cahill would carry throughout his life. At the age of seven, Cahill started participating in private coaching under John Doyle, a retired Irish-Australian footballer, who he considered played a pivotal role in transforming his game.
As a junior player since the age of four, Cahill had played for Balmain Police Tigers, Marrickville Red Devil, and Lakemba SC. He had always played in an older age group due to his older brother who was a year older; playing together meant his parents would spend less on petrol. He also played futsal with his friends, creating a team named Banshee Knights, who his father named, after drawing inspiration from the Celtic legend's banshee screams. In his school years, Cahill enrolled in Bexley North Public School, Annandale North Public School, Tempe High School, and Kingsgrove North High School. During these years, he has represented the public school select team, Metropolitan East before representing the NSW PSSA team, which went on to win the school tournament. Measuring up to 1.65m in high school, teachers doubted Cahill's dream, saying he could not become a professional soccer player due to his small stature which he later said was the best thing he was ever told, saying, "To the people who said I couldn't do it, I say thank you."
Cahill joined NSL club Sydney Olympic, a club heavily influenced by their Greeks ancestry, in Belmore. He began in their youth ranks and also became a ball boy for the first-team games, which fuelled his aspiration to play for the club's senior team. After spending five years at Sydney Olympic, where he embraced the Greek culture and even learned some Greek language, Cahill was released by the club in the same year after failing to pass the annual trial, as a coach believed he was too small and slow. Disheartened by the setback, he joined the NSW Institute of Sport in Lidcombe to improve his speed and physicality. The same year, he joined Belmore Hercules, a club that played three divisions down from Sydney Olympic. Cahill impressed in the under-18 team, resulting in him being promoted to the first team. Cahill became the youngest player at the age of 15 to ever play for the club, making his senior debut as a substitute and scoring his first goal with a header. By the end of the season, he emerged as the club's top goalscorer across the under-18, under-21, and senior squads, netting a total of 30 goals. Cahill then joined Sydney United, another club influenced by their Croats heritage similar to Sydney Olympic's Greek origins. He became part of their under-21 team, where he received significant playing time under manager Phil Pavela. He eventually made his senior debut as a substitute at St George Stadium on 22 March 1997, in a 0–0 league draw against St George.
As the Cahill family had relatives in England, Cahill's parents offered him an opportunity to move to England to pursue his soccer career after his father phoned Allen Batsford, a talent scout from Nottingham Forest, for trials. After much thought, he accepted and his parents took out a $10,000 loan in order to pay for his trip. The loan made his family nearly broke and in debt, forcing his older brother to stop playing soccer and pull out of school to work full-time as a mechanic to repay the debt. Cahill arrived in England in late-1997, meeting his relatives, Glen and Lindsey Stanley, and their kids.
He was part of the Millwall side that won the Football League Second Division championship with a club record 93 points in the 2000–01 season. He also reached two play-off semi-finals with Millwall in 2000 and 2002. Cahill was a central part of Millwall's run to the 2004 FA Cup Final, their first appearance in the showpiece in club history, scoring the winning goal in the semi-final against Sunderland, and securing a UEFA Cup place in the process. Cahill polled over 100,000 votes to win the FA Cup "Player of the Round" award for his performance during the semi-final victory. Cahill's boost to Lions Alex Stone. 13 April 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2006 His last game for the club was against Manchester United in the final, which Millwall lost 3–0. Cahill made 249 overall appearances for The Lions, scoring 56 goals in the process. Tim Cahill – Soccerbase 20 October 2010. Retrieved 20 October 2010
In October 2006, Cahill was named as one of 50 nominees for the Ballon d'Or, becoming the first Everton player in 18 years to be nominated, Cahill is shortlisted for Ballon d'Or 17 October 2006, Liverpooldailypost.co.uk and the only player on the list from an AFC nation. He missed much of the 2006–07 season with injuries to his knee and foot, but signed a five-year contract extension at the season's end.
Cahill returned from injury partway through the 2007–08 season in the club's first UEFA Cup Group match, a home match against Greek side Larissa on 25 October 2007, scoring from a diving header after 14 minutes in a 3–1 win. His extra time winner against Luton Town on 31 October in the League Cup, sent Everton into their first cup quarter-final in more than 5 years. His 100th league appearance for Everton came in a 1–1 draw against Sunderland. Due to injuries to all four of Everton's senior strikers Cahill was employed as a makeshift forward during December 2008. In this role he scored a late equaliser in the Merseyside Derby, becoming the first player since Dixie Dean to score for Everton in three Anfield derbies. Cahill Dedicates Goal 20 January 2009, Evertonfc.com His 100th career goal was scored against Arsenal at Goodison Park on 28 January 2009. Everton 1–1 Arsenal 28 January 2009, Evertonfc.com
On 15 February, Cahill scored the third goal in a 3–1 win over Aston Villa and dedicated the goal to the victims of the 2009 Victorian bushfires. Blues Duo Miss Toon Trip 16 February 2009, Evertonfc.com During the second half of the 2008–09 season, Cahill was used more as the "utility man" due to his versatility as Everton was plagued by injuries to playmaker Mikel Arteta as well as strikers Victor Anichebe and Yakubu and some other key players.
Owing to Phil Neville sustaining a knee ligament injury early in the 2009–10 season, Cahill was named as the replacement captain of Everton. Later in the season he scored his 50th goal for Everton, in a 3–1 victory over Carlisle United in the Third Round of the FA Cup.
Everton fans gave him the nickname "Tiny Tim" after the Charles Dickens character because he is slightly short and slim. He has made a corner flag goal celebration his "trademark". The celebration, where Cahill pretends to trade punches with the corner flag while putting the Everton badge between his teeth, was first seen in the 2005–06 season. On 2 March 2008, Cahill controversially celebrated his goal in the 3–1 home victory of Portsmouth by crossing his wrists as if he had been handcuffed. This was in reference to the recent jailing of his brother, Sean; Cahill later apologised for the gesture. Cahill dedicated his winning goal in a Europa League game against BATE Borisov to the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Samoa, miming rowing a canoe after scoring in the second half of the match in Belarus.
Cahill scored two goals against Aston Villa on 14 April 2010, both coming from headers to move his goal tally for the season to nine goals, all coming from his head. Three days later against Blackburn Rovers, Cahill scored a 90th-minute winner, to give Everton a 3–2 victory.
Cahill made his 200th appearance for Everton on 25 April 2010 in a 2–1 against Fulham, and signed a new four-year contract the following month. He scored his fifth goal in a Merseyside derby, in a 2–0 win over Liverpool in October 2010, Everton 2–0 Liverpool: Pressure mounts on Roy Hodgson as Tim Cahill and Mikel Arteta goals seal Merseyside derby win. Goal.com (17 October 2010). Retrieved 26 September 2011. and his 50th Premier League goal a month later, in a game against Blackpool. The Aussie received a foot injury during the 2011 Asia Cup finals which limited his appearances until the end of the season to only nine – eight league games and one in the FA Cup.
Following his participation in the 2011 Asian Cup, Cahill had the longest goal drought in his career. He scored his last league goal in December 2010 away to Manchester City and went the whole of 2011 without finding the net. The run stretched to 34 games, but was finally ended when he scored the opening goal, a tap in from close range, in a 1–1 draw with Blackburn in January 2012.
On 13 May 2012, during Everton's last match against Newcastle United at Goodison Park, Cahill was sent off for violent conduct after the full-time whistle for an altercation with Yohan Cabaye. After eight years with Everton, Cahill thanked the club and fans saying, "I want to thank everyone at Everton, from the club to tremendous supporters. It has been a privilege to be an Everton player for the past eight years and it was a very difficult decision to leave. I will always support Everton and I wish the club the best of luck in the future."
On 16 February 2016, Cahill announced on social media that he had terminated his contract with Shanghai by mutual agreement upon being told that he was not part of new coach Gregorio Manzano's plans for the 2016 Chinese Super League season.
On 4 February 2017, just as he was preparing to come on as a substitute against Melbourne Victory FC, Cahill was sent off for using "insulting, offensive, abusive language towards a match official" after he angrily disputed a goal with Chris Beath. This is the first time in Australian soccer history in which a player was sent off before entering the field of play.
On 6 December 2017, Cahill left Melbourne City after not getting enough game time, in a bid for more game time at club level to boost his chances to get selected for the Australian squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
He was released by Millwall at the end of the 2017–18 season. Cahill's ten appearances during this spell meant he retired having played one more league game for Millwall than Everton.
On 28 March 2019, Cahill announced his retirement from football.
He made his debut for Western Samoa in a 3–0 loss against New Zealand coming on as a substitute. He also played against Vanuatu in another 3–0 defeat. He played alongside his older brother Sean, who was a goalkeeper. His younger brother Chris Cahill later went on to captain the country at the top national team level.
FIFA changed its eligibility rules in 2003, allowing players capped at junior levels to switch international allegiance, meaning that Cahill was then able to play for England, Australia, the Republic of Ireland or Samoa. He chose to represent the country of his birth (Australia), declaring it a "special moment".
Cahill also played in the group game against Brazil, which Australia lost and a drawn group game against Croatia. Cahill played the entire "round of 16" match against eventual World Cup winners Italy, which Australia lost 0–1.
Despite earlier injury concerns, Cahill played in Australia's opening group game at the 2010 FIFA World Cup against Germany where he controversially received a straight red card in the 56th minute, which meant he missed the group match against Ghana in Rustenburg.
Cahill played in the final group match against Serbia, where he scored in the 69th minute. After the tournament, Cahill had scored a total of three FIFA World Cup goals, which is a national record.
The final was played between Japan and Australia which resulted in a 1–0 loss from a 109th minute volley by Tadanari Lee.
On 5 March 2014, in a pre-World Cup friendly match against Ecuador, Cahill became Australia's all-time top goalscorer with 31 goals, scoring twice in a 4–3 loss.
Cahill scored Australia's only goal in their opening group match against Chile on 13 June 2014. He joined Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, Mexican defender Rafael Márquez, Dutch players Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben, German player Miroslav Klose, and American Clint Dempsey as the only players to score at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
On 18 June, Cahill scored Australia's first goal against the Netherlands in their 3–2 defeat; a strike which has been considered by some experts as one of the best goals ever scored in a World Cup. Cahill's goal was later nominated for the best World Cup goal in the tournament but fell short to the eventual winner James Rodríguez with his goal against Uruguay.
In May 2018, Cahill was named in the World Cup squad by coach Bert van Marwijk and made a single appearance in the tournament, coming off the bench in the 63rd minute of the 2–0 loss against Peru.
On 16 July 2018, Cahill announced his retirement from international soccer, subsequently overturned with the decision to participate in one final home friendly against Lebanon in November 2018. He retired with 50 goals (a national team record) in 108 games (the second highest, and just three behind Mark Schwarzer).
Cahill has featured in EA Sports' FIFA video game series, and has featured as a cover star on several editions of the game.
In 2010 Cahill married his childhood sweetheart Rebekah Greenfield in Las Vegas, en route to Sydney. The couple have four children, Kyah Cahill, Shae Cahill (son, born 26 April 2005), Sienna (daughter, born 2007) and Cruz (son, born 2 September 2012). As of 2015, the Cahills owned homes in Sydney, Florida, New York, Shanghai, and England.
Cahill is heavily involved with the UNICEF children's charity.
In June 2013, the Cahill Expressway in Sydney was temporarily renamed the Tim Cahill Expressway in his honour ahead of the Socceroos' 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Iraq. Football Federation Australia representatives suggested the name change should be made permanently should Cahill score the goal that led to Australia's qualification for the 2014 World Cup. The fast road to Brazil: Cahill's personal route to Rio by Thomas O'Brien (Sydney Morning Herald, 17 June 2013)
Cahill's business career is diverse across a range of industries. BRW quoted his net worth to be $28 million in 2014.
Cahill lived in Saddle River, New Jersey while playing for the Red Bulls.
Cahill was officially announced as an ambassador for Australia's Securities Broker ACY Securities on 30 October 2019.
In 2021, Cahill joined the board of directors of K.A.S. Eupen.
In 2022, Cahill was hired as the sporting executive of the FIA-sanctioned international off-road racing series Extreme E team XE Sports Group. XE Sports Group is due to join the 2023 Extreme E season.
In 2024, Cahill was widely rumoured to be the new CEO of Malaysia's national football team, however, was named as the personal advisor to Tunku Ismail Idris, Regent of
Free Malaysia Today. 27 December 2024. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
| + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | |||
| Millwall | 1997–98 | Division Two | 0 |
| 1998–99 | Division Two | 6 | |
| 1999–2000 | Division Two | 12 | |
| 2000–01 | Division Two | 10 | |
| 2001–02 | Division One | 13 | |
| 2002–03 | Division One | 3 | |
| 2003–04 | Division One | 12 | |
| Everton | 2004–05 | Premier League | 12 |
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 8 | |
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 7 | |
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 10 | |
| 2008–09 | Premier League | 9 | |
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 10 | |
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 9 | |
| 2011–12 | Premier League | 3 | |
| New York Red Bulls | 2012 | Major League Soccer | 1 |
| 2013 | Major League Soccer | 12 | |
| 2014 | Major League Soccer | 3 | |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2015 | Chinese Super League | 12 |
| Hangzhou Greentown | 2016 | Chinese Super League | 4 |
| Melbourne City | 2016–17 | A-League Men | 13 |
| 2017–18 | A-League | 0 | |
| Millwall | 2017–18 | EFL Championship | 0 |
| Jamshedpur FC | 2018–19 | Indian Super League | 2 |
| + Appearances and goals by national team and year | |
| Australia | 7 |
| 1 | |
| 3 | |
| 1 | |
| 2 | |
| 5 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 3 | |
| 7 | |
| 9 | |
| 3 | |
| 2 | |
| 0 | |
Everton
New York Red Bulls
Shanghai Shenhua
Melbourne City
Achievements
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