Australian footballer Tim Cahill is the Aussie’s biggest weapon in the World Cup as the all-time top scorer for the national team. Watch the video above to see highlights of his impressive career goals.
Here’s what you need to know about him:
1. No Australian Has Scored As Many Goals As Him For the National Team
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During a 2014 World Cup friendly match in March, Cahill scored a goal against Ecuador to become Australia’s all-time top scorer with a total of 31 goals. Although they lost the game, he scored 2 of the 3 goals in the game with a 4-3 loss to Ecuador.
In the 2010 World Cup, former Australian coach Rale Rasic told media Cahill was “the best Australian footballer he had seen in his lifetime.”
2. He is One of Three to Score at the 2006, 2010 and 2014 World Cup
Cahill became a part of a prestigious group of soccer players made up of only Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie of the Netherlands, and the U.S.A’s Clint Dempsey, when he scored Australia’s only goal in their first match against Chile in the 2014 World Cup. Watch the video above for highlights of the game, including his goal.
In his first World Cup in 2006, Cahill scored a goal in the opener against Japan to become the first Australian in history to score a goal in the World Cup. He ended up scoring 2 goals in that came to be named “Man of the Match.”
In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Cahill came in clutch for the Aussies when he scored goals in matches against Japan and Qatar to keep them in it.
This year he has tallied 3 goals during pre-matches and the one goal scored for Australia against Chile.
3. He Transferred From the EPL to the MLS
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With two remaining years on his contract at Everton FC of the English Premier League (EPL), the club handed him over to coach Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls in 2012 for $1.4 million.
Cahill had an extremely successful career with Everton after being traded from Millwall for $2 million. He finished up with a total of 250 appearances where he scored 57 goals.
After 8 years at Everton, Cahill had become a fan favorite. Everton fans even took a liking to calling him “Tiny Tim” and announced in a press conference to his fans due to his small stature.
He announced to his fans at a press conference:
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.”
His currently salary at the New York Red Bulls is $3.6 million.
4. He is Half British, Half Somoan
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Although Cahill’s birthplace is Sydney, Australia, his father is of Irish descent, but lived in England during his life. Cahill gets his dark complexion from his mother who is a Samoan native.
Cahill supposedly had the option of representing Ireland because of his father, but he has only represented Samoa and Australia in his international career.
5. He Got Married in Las Vegas
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In May of 2010, Cahill married the mother of his 3 children, Rebekah Greenhill. It was not a typical Las Vegas wedding, but was hosted at the world famous Bellagio Hotel with 50 supporting friends watching.
Cahill said of his wife:
She is my best mate, my everything.”
The Cahills have four young children.
He told news.com of his family:
I have four kids, aged 11, 9, 7 and 2. They are all really active and love sports, all the way down to my two-year-old who doesn’t stop running around the house all day.”
