Australian · Sydney, Australia · Born 6 December 1979Australia's greatest footballer and the first Australian to play and score in the English Premier League, a warrior who never stopped running for his country.
Timothy Filiga Cahill was born on 6 December 1979 in Sydney, Australia, to an English father of Irish descent and a Samoan mother, growing up in the suburb of La Perouse in a household shaped by his maternal grandmother's teachings on Samoan discipline and hard work. He represented Western Samoa at youth level in 1994 alongside his goalkeeper brother Sean, before beginning his senior career with Sydney clubs. Cahill moved to England with Millwall in 1997, helping the club reach the 2004 FA Cup final, before Everton signed him that year. He spent eight seasons at Goodison Park, becoming renowned for his aggressive box-to-box style and exceptional heading ability, scoring many crucial goals despite his relatively modest height. Cahill became Australia's all-time leading goalscorer, netting 50 goals in 108 caps between 2004 and 2018, and remains the only Australian to have scored at three separate World Cups — 2006, 2010, and 2014 — including a memorable brace on his World Cup debut against Japan in 2006. After Everton, Cahill played in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls, then in China and back home in Australia with Melbourne City, before finishing his career in India. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of his services to football, and remains the country's most celebrated men's football export.
Australia's all-time leading goalscorer with 50 international goals
He scored the first World Cup goal by an Australian in modern history, a stunning brace against Japan in 2006, and went on to score at three separate World Cups — a unique record for an Australian.
Did You Know?How They Played
Attacking midfielder known for powerful headers, late runs into the box, and clutch goals
Lasting Impact
Greatest Australian footballer who helped establish the Socceroos as a competitive international force
Career Honours
- FFA Cup 2016 (Melbourne City)
- FA Cup 2004 (Millwall)
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney United | 1997–1997 | 2 | 0 | — |
| Millwall | 1997–2004 | 217 | 52 | #11 |
| Everton | 2004–2012 | 226 | 56 | #11 |
| New York Red Bulls | 2012–2015 | 62 | 14 | #11 |
| Shanghai Shenhua | 2015–2016 | 28 | 11 | — |
| Hangzhou Greentown | 2016–2016 | 17 | 4 | #11 |
| Melbourne City | 2016–2017 | 27 | 11 | — |
| Millwall | 2018–2018 | 10 | 0 | #11 |
| Jamshedpur | 2018–2019 | 12 | 2 | — |
 Australia | — | 108 | 50 | — |
Australian Athletes