Timely Tim

Tim Cahill has never been one to shirk a challenge. In his most candid interview ever, the talismanic Socceroo tackles tough questions about his jailed brother, the prospect of a move from Everton to a European super club, and whether Australia has any chance at next year’s World Cup

Interview: Dan Rookwood

The secret to Tim Cahill’s success is all in his timing. A consistent goal scorer from midfield, he judges his runs

into the box perfectly, and for such a small player at 5ft 10in, ‘Tiny Tim’ is superb in the air. Moreover, he knows precisely when he needs to be at his peak for club and country.

Cahill’s innate sixth sense to be in the right place at the right time in life has served him well to date. His sparkling performance at the 2006 World Cup in Germany – during which he famously came on to score two late goals and set up a third against Japan to overturn a 1-0 deficit – helped to earn him a prestigious Ballon D’Or nomination that year as one of the world’s top 50 players. He has since cemented his reputation as one of the most coveted attacking midfielders in Europe, with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger known to be a particular fan.

Born in Sydney to a Samoan mother and a British father, Cahill struggled for several years to win the right to play for Australia, having initially represented Samoa as a teenager. After a protracted appeal during which he let his football do the talking, he finally made his debut for the Socceroos in 2004.

A loyal, committed team player and firm fans’ favourite, Cahill wears his big heart in the art on his sleeve in the form of a tattoo that tells his family history. There have been downs as well as ups – notably the six-year jail sentence given to older brother Sean in January last year for grievous bodily harm following a fight outside a south London nightclub that left a man partially blind. Cahill, who often dedicates his goals to worthy causes, attracted criticism for making a handcuff gesture in support of his brother after scoring against Portsmouth.

At 29 and in the form of his life, Cahill has yet again timed his run to perfection. April presents him with the opportunity to help secure Australia’s qualification for next year’s World Cup finals in South Africa and to get through to the FA Cup final should Everton overcome Manchester United in their semi-final at Wembley.

You must fancy your chances of another FA Cup final.
Yeah, when I was at Millwall we lost in the final to Man Utd in 2004. Hopefully this time I can go that one step further and maybe win it. We’ve already beaten Liverpool and Aston Villa [and Middlesbrough] so we’re happy to take on anyone. This is a massive opportunity. At the moment I am enjoying some good form, feeling fit and playing good football.

Your FA Cup run with Millwall really lit the blue touch paper on your career, didn’t it?
Yeah, I suppose so. It put me out there and I guess people finally got to know who the real Tim Cahill was. Grabbing that winning goal [in the semi-final] against Sunderland, people were proud of the Australian who got one of the lower league clubs to the final. It’ll probably never happen again in Millwall’s history. It was one of the finest moments in my career.

You’ve been playing up front a lot this season. Do you feel like you’ve playing out of position or do you even prefer being a striker?
I’m very thankful for where I play or wherever I play. I’m very physical but as a striker my body is taking a bigger toll of whacks and knocks playing against 6ft 4 giants and I’m having to find ways to beat them in the air or knock them off the ball or get in behind them. It’s about enjoying the challenge – can I step up? I’ve had it all my life, people thinking I was too small or not fast enough, not strong enough. But I feel that I can play anywhere.

You’re a big game player. You’ve come up with important goals when it’s mattered, notably against Japan in the last World Cup. That must have made you pretty proud.
The proudest I have ever been. The whole of Australia can probably say right now they know exactly where they were when those two goals went in the back of the net. For me, that’s something that I can share with every single person who is Australian.

Fourteen goals in 31 internationals: not a bad return from someone who is predominantly a midfielder, is it?
All I do when I cross that white line for Australia is think about scoring the winner. Same as I do with Everton. My goal is to try and win the game as soon as possible. The appetite and fight for winning a game outweighs any other thoughts. My belief is just to win and nothing else comes into my mind.

There are a fair few midfielders in the Premiership who bag a lot of goals – Cristiano Ronaldo, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard. You’re now in that bracket.
Yeah.

How does that make you feel?
It’s unbelievable. Someone told me the stats the other day that I’ve scored 100 goals in 400 games so it’s one in four from midfield, although I’ve been playing as a striker just recently. I’m very privileged and honoured that I can be in this situation and being Australian that people can look up to me and want to follow in my footsteps.

You were nominated for the Ballon D’Or in 2006. Was that a bolt from the blue for you or were you expecting to make that list?
A bit of both. I was just happy to be involved in it. It shows just how far Australians and Australian football has come. It was a reward for everyone who has been part of my football career. It was an honour and it’s amazing.

Getting knocked out of the World Cup thanks to a highly dubious penalty decision against Italy must have really hurt.
Yeah, but I look back on that tournament with pride. I can hold my head up high, I did all I could, so did all the lads, and we went out to the champions of the world. If we get another chance at another World Cup, we can hopefully go that one better.

You are at your peak now. But some of the rest of the squad look a bit past it. Do you really think you’ve got enough quality around you to do better in South Africa?
I hope so. Every single player will be giving everything and I think that’s the most important thing. As long as every single player has the same mindset and belief to go out there and win then nothing else matters. The quality is there in the Australian national team. The players are getting better in the A League, more players are in Europe. Of course we’ve got the chance of going one better but it’s whether we can produce it at the right time.

You’ve probably become Australia’s most consistent senior player now, would you agree?
I’m at the stage now where people rely on me a lot for always coming up with the big goals in big competitions. It’s something that I like and I take with open arms because this is what I am there for. I want people to rely on me. I take that as a compliment. Obviously we’ve got Harry Kewell, and Lucas [Neill] and Schwarzy [Mark Schwarzwer]. Hopefully they can do the same.

It’s fair to say you ought to have played more than 31 times for your country, isn’t it?
Yes, definitely. Everyone knows my scenario and the fact that I played for Samoa and we had to wait for my court case to get cleared. My dad always said: “Good things come to those who wait” and I couldn’t have waited for a more perfect time to play for Australia. I’m lucky enough that I am part of this revolution in Australian football that has helped change the view of the game.

Did you think you might never get the chance to play for Australia because of the complications with Samoa?
Of course. I can remember being in tears, blaming my old man, blaming officials and I feared that because of a lack of common sense I might never get my chance. But I was making the right noises in England at Millwall, getting to an FA Cup final, winning a promotion, and people took note and said: “Look this kid’s doing really well. Let’s talk, let’s get things going.” In the end it got turned around. They couldn’t block my dream. Faith prevailed.

Do you think the struggle made you hungrier?
I’ve always been really hungry because my family sacrificed so much to give me this opportunity. I still to this day feel like I owe them something. That’s what keeps me strong. It was hard for me to come to England; my parents had to get a loan to get me over here for a trial. I've made sure since then that I've paid them back and they've never had to work since the day I got my first contract.

You strike me as captain material for both club and country. That hasn’t come your way so far. Do you think it might still do in the future?
Yes, most definitely. But I don’t need an armband to captain my team; I feel I am already a captain. In the big games or the big moments domestically or internationally, I always come up with the goods and if people can see that I am always leading, it doesn’t matter that I don’t have the armband. But I know that if the armband did come up for grabs, I would take it with open arms. I’m not someone to shy away from responsibility.

It’s been a pretty impressive World Cup qualifying campaign, hasn’t it?
Yes definitely. It’s down to the Pim [Verbeek] and the way he instils respect – he’s highly regarded by all the players. He knows exactly what’s going on 24/7, he has surveillance on every single player throughout the world so when it comes to camp there’s no stone unturned. He’s worked out exactly where we need to be and he deserves a lot of credit for coming in and filling someone’s shoes in Gus Hiddink.

Hiddink’s was a tough act to follow.
It shows the mark of a man who is fearless. People forget that Pim is a very successful person in football and he has his own very powerful personality that comes across to the players. He is a great man-manager who understands the players. I love playing for a manager who knows exactly what he wants.

Who is the best manager you have played under?
Difficult, that. At international level, Gus and Pim are two very different people and I respect them a lot. But [Everton manager] David Moyes has affected my career in a big way. He’s someone that took a chance and paid 1.5 million quid for me and played me to the death.

Moyes doesn’t seem like the kind of man you’d want to get on the wrong side of. Have you ever had an argument with him?
Whether you’re a mechanic or you build houses or you work in an office, you don’t have to like your boss. But I’m lucky that I’ve got a great relationship with my boss. We’ve got a great understanding. He is like a mentor.

Is he a shouty, sweary manager?
A few things get kicked around and you get told a few words here and there. But the beauty of it is how you react as a player. You can shy away from it or you can take it on the chin. Good managers get a reaction out of the players. That was something Gus Hiddink was very good at too, spurring us on.

As an Australian playing in England with the distances involved, have you ever been put under pressure to choose your club over your country?
I suppose to a certain extent. The easiest answer to that is I can’t be asked to choose because either I want to play for Australia or I don’t want to play for Australia. It’s a simple as that. I always want to play for Australia so you’ll see me on that plane regardless. I feel that the gaffer [Moyes] knows the type of personality that I am that I want to do as well as I can domestically and internationally.

Some players end up choosing their club over the country. Jamie Carragher at Liverpool and Paul Scholes at Manchester United spring to mind. What matters more to you: Everton or Australia?
Easy: they both matter equally the same. If I wasn’t playing brilliantly for Everton then Australia wouldn’t pick me. I need to be playing at the highest level possible. I’m very passionate about both and I respect the opportunities that both give me.

Can you explain why you’ve become such a cult hero at Everton?
Every time I score the passion comes out and I try and relay that back to the fans and to the players and the staff at how grateful I am to be playing for such a good football club. The fans have taken well to me. I am part of the furniture at Everton but I don’t take it for granted.

And you’ve stayed humble and loyal.
I can’t be any other way. When I go home to Australia I’m with all the same people, same friends. I feel the same thing here in England. All I do is play football, eat, sleep, play with my kids, play football – there’s nothing else to do. If kids see you on the street and they want an autograph, that’s a big honour so I spend half an hour before I get in the ground and 40 minutes to an hour after the game with the Everton fans signing autographs. They are the people that made me who I am now and I’ll never forget it.

It could be argued that you embody Everton, in that you punch above your weight. Is that fair or is that a slight on both your character and that of Everton?
It doesn’t matter. I take compliments and I take constructive criticism. Not everyone loves you. It’s the way you react as a footballer. I use it all to make me play better.

Tell me about the tattoos on your arm. You’ve got MFC and EFC…
I’m very traditional person. The tattoos are about my grandmother dying and they tell the story about my mother and father, my brothers and my sister, my kids. It’s pretty much a family tree on my arm with my life in football too. I’ve only ever had two football clubs – Millwall and Everton – and they are the only two football clubs that mean a lot to me. That appreciation is something I carry on my arm as a mark of respect. Who knows what will happen in the future? The story is obviously not finished. There’s still a lot to be told because I am only 29 and I’m looking to have a bright future and win trophies and do as much as I can.

So will you finish your playing career at Everton?
Who knows? I want to do as well as I can. I’ve got a chance of the FA Cup. I’ve got a lot of years left at Everton and hopefully I can make it longer, but it depends what the club thinks of you.

Do you think you might finish your playing days in Australia?
Yeah, you never know. I’m 29 now and I can’t see myself quitting before I’m 35 or even longer than that. I’m a very fit individual. I pride myself on playing a lot of games. I’ve played 400 games now at 29 and I hope to play another 200, 250 maybe. It’s all about the way I look after my body. I’ve got a very fond attachment to Australia but I won’t be rushing home too soon because I want to get as much football at the highest level of football as I can before I come home.

What do you think of the A League now?
It’s catching on slowly. I watch the highlights here. It’s slowly, slowly getting there, they’re adding more teams, the level is getting better. All in good time, we’ll get there.

Which club did you support as boy?
I did support Sydney Olympic because obviously I used to go to the games and I played for them when I was a kid. But my team was AC Milan: Gullit, Savicevic, Boban, Rijkaard, van Basten, Maldini, Baresi, the list goes on. It was probably the best team the world has ever seen. I loved watching those players on SBS. They used to play all the best goals from one player to a musical montage. That was the best thing ever.

Who is your favourite player now?
I’d have to say Cristiano Ronaldo. He’s a player that can do anything. Playing against him, he’s someone that can never be marked. Lionel Messi [at Barcelona] is another one. I also like unsung heroes like Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

Who is the player you least like playing against?
It used to be Roy Keane but now? Being a striker it would have be someone like Alex [Chelsea central defender]. He’s a big boy and very strong and I’ve bounced off him a few times and he’s bounced off me. He’s very difficult to play against.

Do you think you might have won more honours and more recognition if you’d gone to a bigger club?
You’ve got to ask: is the grass always greener? Is it the right situation for you and your family and you as a player? Opportunities arise. I feel that I am achieving a lot at Everton, qualifying for Europe. I feel I get the same rewards as players at other clubs do actually winning something. It’s unfortunate that I haven’t won them big awards. But who knows? Maybe one day. But beating Liverpool is like winning an FA Cup. People might think that’s not a high aim to set but once you’ve played for Everton and know what it is to be a blue, then you know what it means to beat Liverpool.

You’ve had good battles in the Merseyside derbies. Those games seem to matter to you more than any other?
Definitely. I hold the record now with Dixie Dean for being the only Everton player to score three Merseyside derby goals at Anfield. I still hope to better it. Things like that, the fans never forget. [Ex-Liverpool striker] Ian Rush said that games like that make you a legend forever and that is something to me means a lot more than going to a club and just being fizzled out and being part of a trophy but not really recognised. It means a lot to be in the same calibre as Dixie Dean, Graeme Sharpe and Duncan Ferguson at a club like Everton.

Would you ever consider a move to Liverpool if they came in for you?
Never. Never, never. No money in this world could convince me to play for Liverpool. And that’s not a lack of respect for Liverpool supporters or the football club. It’s for the respect for the Everton supporters. You just can’t do that. Morally it’s not right. It goes against everything that I stand for. So no chance.

Arsene Wenger is a big fan of yours. What about going to somewhere like Arsenal?
It’s a different story when it comes to things like that. But out of sheer respect for Everton when you’re talking about Liverpool, then definitely not. Opportunities arise and you either turn them down or you take them. The best thing for me now is I’m at a club that really likes me.

What’s the story behind your trademark celebration of boxing the corner flag when you score?
It’s from [fellow Socceroo] Archie Thompson. Archie did a kung-fu celebration one match against Jamaica and I said: “That’s quality, I love your celebration.” And he said: “Do it. Take it to the Premiership.” So I adapted it and it’s stuck now. I’ve trademarked it. Archie’s trying to buy it back off me but he can’t have it.

You like to dedicate goals. You dedicated your FA Cup goal against Aston Villa to the people affected by the bush fires in Victoria.
As an Australian, it’s difficult to see what’s been happening at home when you’re playing football. People mourn in different ways. I just felt I had to put that [black] armband on and go on that pitch carrying Australia on my arm. And then when I scored, [Everton captain] Phil Neville is pointing to my arm and the lads are cuddling me and it felt so magical; it felt like the weight had been lifted off my shoulders just for those few seconds.

Your loyalty has occasionally got you in trouble – notably last year when you made the handcuff gesture upon scoring in tribute to your brother after he was sent to prison…
People love me one minute and people hate me the next. You can only stand by your family and you can only stand by your country. You just have to take it in your stride and show your respects at every level that you can. People know what I am all about. I don’t hide; I always put myself out there.

Do you regret that handcuff gesture now or do you still stand by it?
It’s over now so it doesn’t really need to be brought up again.

Do you visit your brother in prison often?
I feel that we don’t need to talk about that. It’s not going to change anyone’s lives whether I do or I don’t.

OK, let’s move on. Tell me about the football academies you’re setting up in Australia.
It’s still early stages. There’s a lot of work in trying to get the right foundations for these kids. Once I’ve got it right, I’ll talk more about it but basically I just want to give these kids the same opportunities that I had and lead them in the right way. And hopefully one day they’ll strive to be like me. And if not, they’ll just enjoy their football and be good kids.

What do you want to do after you have finished playing?
I want to work with kids and help develop them, show them the right way, the right morals and attitude into how to become a better footballer. I want to set up academies across Australia, trying to produce great Australian talent. Australia has so many different cultures [but] I’d like to bring in the indigenous style, and bring their competitiveness, their athleticism and raw ability into the frame as well. I feel that with the right training we can find some more superstars who can help to make Australia an even stronger force.

Note: The following quotes are all my own except for the ones in italics which are in the public domain. SBS and Fox Sports are the equivalent of the BBC and Sky Sports in the UK

David Moyes, Everton manager
“When I was manager at Preston, he was at Millwall. We used to play against them a lot and he impressed me. So when I moved to Everton I thought he would be able to make the step up to the Premiership. A lot of players can’t, but Tim proved very quickly that he could.

“It’s impossible to say how important Tim is to Everton Football Club. He’s very humble, he’s a team player, he’s happy to do the work. It’s not all about Tim Cahill; it’s all about the team. That’s why the Everton fans love him. And that goes the other way too. I think Tim has found a club, a team, a manager, a set of fans that are perfect for him. It’s home. His style is moulded to Everton’s.

“I came to Everton seven years ago this month and Tim has been here for about six. Pound for pound he’s probably the best signing I’ve ever made. I paid £1.5 million for him and he must be worth more than 10 times that now. But I would never sell him. It’s not just about a monetary value; it’s about the value he adds to Everton. You can’t put a price on that.”


Pim Verbeek, Socceroos coach
“Tim is a wonderful player and fantastic character in the team. He is an integral part of the squad and a highly valuable player. He is playing at a high level and playing regularly and that is the most important thing for me.”


Sam Allardyce, Blackburn manager (picked up from UK press)
"Tim Cahill uses his body and it's not often he concedes a free-kick, but most of the time we see him playing the man before the ball. Every player commits fouls. It's whether the referee sees it and sometimes they don't if a player is as clever as he is. It's certainly very difficult to spot from their point of view and the spectators' point of view. But you pick up on it if you have been in the game as long as we have. I'm not saying he's a dirty player, he just uses his assets very well."

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager (picked up from UK press)
"Tim Cahill is a fantastic player. Tactically, he is very good, very intelligent and if you look at all the defenders in the league, they are all a head higher than he is, but he always pops up with a header. He has something that you can't give to anybody. He knows where to be on a football pitch."

Simon Hill, Fox Sports anchorman
"He's quite simply the most important player Australia has at the moment. You can make a case for Harry Kewell being the country's biggest star, but Harry has struggled with injury, and for me, Tim is the most consistent top-level player Australia has at the moment. He has the knack of making telling contributions in big games - Japan at the World Cup, Oman at the Asian Cup... he's crucial. More than that, he's a great ambassador off the field too - kids love him, and he's one of the reasons the game has grown so massively in recent years."

Craig Foster, former Socceroo and SBS chief football analyst
“Right now Cahill is Australia’s form player and the stand out star of the group. He will be the key man for us in South Africa next year. The battle that he had to make it as a top class footballer is a wonderful story of courage and perseverance in the face of tremendous odds. He is the greatest ambassador the game has right now and he’s clearly shown he has the ability to be Australia’s greatest ever player. I would just like to see him go to a better club. Everton has done magnificently for Timmy Cahill but he’s now has outgrown them. The question is does he want to remain the star of a team that is always struggling to get into Europe or does he want to go and play with guys who are at the very highest level? I hope it’s the latter. He would be the perfect addition to a top level European side. I think he would fit in at a place like Arsenal.”

David Basheer, SBS commentator
“He is the most important Socceroo at the moment in terms of his ability to change a match. He’s a classic impact player, a match winner with a big-game temperament. He thrives on the big occasion; he doesn’t show any signs of anxiety. But I actually think Everton is the perfect club for him. It’s big enough to be knocking on the European door, but not too big like Manchester United. When you consider that Carlos Tevez is fourth choice striker at United, there is no way Tim Cahill would get a sniff at Old Trafford under Alex Ferguson. It just wouldn’t happen.”

Frank Farina, the Socceroos coach who gave Cahill his first cap
"Timmy is something special. I have no doubt he could play with any club in the world, bar none. He has something you can't coach. It's a natural gift. You are born with it. He knows when to make runs into the box, he scores from midfield, he is superb in the air. He is just about the complete player. Most of all, he has that mental approach that separates the good players from the great ones."

Rale Rasic, former Socceroos coach
“Cahill is far and away the greatest footballer Australia has produced. I have huge respect for guys like Mark Bosnich, Ray Baartz, Mark Viduka, Harry Kewell, John Kosmina and whoever else you want to name. But, for me, Cahill is a phenomenal talent and stands above all of them. He is miles ahead. He is the complete footballer. He has presence, poise and the ability to read the game. He is great in the air, his heading is exceptional. He is an extraordinary goal-scorer and he just knows where to be at the right time. You can't coach that in a player. Everton are a different team without him. When he plays, the whole team lifts. Having a player who can inspire that is priceless. I don't know how long he has to go at Everton, but it wouldn't surprise me if some of the biggest clubs in the world want him. What I really like about Tim is that he has so much pride for his country. You can hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. He would crawl over broken glass to play for the Socceroos."


Tim Times

1979 Born in Sydney to a Samoan mother and English father

1993 Plays for Samoa, aged 14

1997 Moves to England, aged 17. Joins Millwall from Sydney United

2004 Scores winner in FA Cup semi-final against Sunderland but loses 3-0 to Man Utd in the final; Makes debut for Socceroos; Moves to Everton for £1.5m; Becomes Oceania player of the year

2006 Scores Australia’s first World Cup goals in 3-1 victory against Japan; Nominated for the Ballon D’or

2007 Becomes first Australian to score at Asian Cup finals

2008 Makes hand cuff gesture in tribute to older brother Sean in prison

2009 Equals Dixie Dean’s Merseyside derby goals record; Sets up football academies in Australia; Inspires Australia to World Cup 2010 qualification and Everton to FA Cup final?