Australia’s highest goalscorer ever, Tim Cahill, has signed a deal with A-League club Melbourne City after months of speculation.
The deal is set to last three years with Cahill to play until the end of the 2017-18 season before joining the coaching staff the following season.
Cahill came through the academy of Millwall FC in 1998 where he scored 56 goals in 249 appearances before he stepped up to the English Premier League with Everton in 2004. Cahill spent eight successful seasons on Merseyside where he became known for his ability to jump above his opponents and score stunning headers. He ended his long spell with 68 goals in 278 appearances across all competitions. Cahill has scored 47 goals in 91 appearances for the Australian national team.
Cahill then joined New York Red Bulls in 2012 where he played until the end of 2014 before having a stint in China with Shanghai Shenhua and then Hangzhou Greentown.
The 36-year-old striker has been given the number 17 jersey ahead of the new season. Cahill completed his medical at New York City FC’s training facility where a selfie was taken showing Cahill in a Melbourne City jersey posing with New York City stars, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard and David Villa.
The deal will take Cahill up to the 2018 Russia World Cup where he is expected to bow out of his international career.
“I am incredibly excited to have signed with Melbourne City and ultimately the City Football Group,” Cahill said.
“There is real ambition and purpose here, qualities that are immensely important to me. The club is completely attuned to the opportunity for the game in this country; investing significantly in facilities, the development of young players and in giving back at the grassroots level. For me that makes this the ideal place to be. I am here to contribute as much as I can to both the club and, where possible, to the further development of football here in Australia.”
The head of City Football Services, Brian Marwood. spoke about Tim’s future in the coaching team,
“The plan to transition Tim to join our coaching team is both significant and exciting. His international experience as a player on four different continents marries perfectly with City Football Group’s unique global footprint. Following the player-to-coach pathway of Patrick Vieira, Tim has a real opportunity to develop within City Football Group both on the field and from the touchline.” – Patrick Staveley
Photo of Tim Cahill snapping a selfie with his new teammates from his personal Twitter feed.
About the author
Aspiring sport journalist. NRL and Football are what I know best. Lifelong Parramatta Eels, Liverpool FC and Western Sydney Wanderers supporter and enthusiast
