As the Socceroos prepare for their crucial World Cup qualifier against Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, Tim Cahill is set to play an important role in Ange Postecoglou’s plans for victory.
Even at 35, Cahill remains Australia’s most potent attacking threat having scored 13 of Australia’s 31 goals from open play in the Postecoglou era, despite the enhanced attention he receives from opponents.
Cahill is undoubtedly the greatest Socceroo of all time. His contribution to Australian football is unmatched by any other. The likes of Mark Viduka, Mark Schwarzer, Robbie Slater and Lucas Neill, all Socceroos legends in their own right, simply can’t compete with Cahill’s skill, consistency or sheer numbers.
But where does Cahill rank among Australia’s sporting greats?
Among Australian sporting royalty, there is no doubt that Don Bradman sits above the rest as Australia’s greatest sportsperson. With a batting average double his nearest competitor, Bradman has a dominance over the cricket record books unlike any sportsperson in their field.
His dominance is such that the top Australian sporting achievement of the year receives The Don Award.
But is Tim Cahill second?
With 41 international goals and counting, Cahill is Australia’s highest goalscorer, more than 10 clear of his closest rival. This is despite playing the majority of his career as an attacking midfielder rather than a striker and never being a first-choice penalty taker, a phenomenal achievement.
The Australian sporting landscape on which Cahill has made such a strong impression is dominated by the two big boys, AFL and NRL. But the fact is, no AFL player or NRL player can lay claim to the greatest in their sport’s history the way Cahill can.
The debate rages in pubs across Australia as to who the greatest Aussie rules footballer of all time is. Whether it be the skill of Leigh Matthews or the flair of Gary Ablett Sr, or the modern champions Wayne Carey and Gary Ablett Jr, it is difficult to separate.
It’s a similar story when it comes to the NRL. Johnathan Thurston’s stellar 2015 season has brought him into consideration as the greatest of all time. While he sits comfortably alongside the Immortals of the game in Wally Lewis, Clive Churchill and Andrew Johns among others, it is impossible to elevate one above the rest.
With rugby union in a similar state of congestion at the top, Cahill’s emphatic performances for Australia as a Socceroo cement him as the greatest footballer of any code in Australia.
Many would argue Cahill’s performances were not truly world class, for he cannot compete with the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But make no mistake, had it been Messi who scored Cahill’s stunning left-footed volley against the Dutch, it would have undoubtedly won the FIFA Puskas Award for goal of the year and would have been lauded as one of the most spectacular World Cup goals of all time.
That superb strike against the Dutch was Cahill’s fifth in World Cup football with Brett Holman the only other Socceroo to have scored multiple World Cup goals with his two in the 2010 tournament.
Cahill’s goals came at three separate tournaments, a feat only achieved by eight other men in the tournament’s 85-year history, who all played for strong sides that went far deeper into the tournament than the Socceroos ever have. If that isn’t a world-class performance I don’t know what is.
The fact that football is one of the few sports that Australia is yet to truly be competitive in, make Cahill’s achievements even more astounding.
While Rod Laver’s career was outstanding, worthy of high acclaim, his success came in tennis, a sport in which Australia has traditionally been a world power having won five Davis Cups, the third-most of any nation (despite a recent lack of success).
Cahill scored in six major tournaments, beginning with Australia’s first ever World Cup goal against Japan in 2006 and ending with a trademark header in the Socceroos’ triumphant 2015 Asian Cup campaign, a remarkable consistency.
When the big moment arrived, Cahill stepped up, a temperament the forever choking Greg Norman would have loved.
Cathy Freeman and Cadel Evans reached the pinnacle, both in ‘unaustralian’ sports, and when the time come to perform they excelled in a Cahill-like manner. These two legends reached the top just once, however. While an exceptional achievement in itself, Cahill’s continual excellence, seemingly improving with age, sees him exceed the gold medallist and the Tour de France champion.
Finally, Cahill is a top bloke, king of the kids. Ruthlessly competitive on the field and an incredible role model off it, perhaps the best in Australian sport.
Gracious in defeat and modest in victory, Cahill is a humble champion. Something the smoking, gambling, stump-waving, illegal-substance taking Shane Warne could never accomplish, despite being the greatest leg spinner of all time.
Tim Cahill is a true legend of Australian sport, and the greatest Socceroo of all time. But is he the greatest after The Don?
David Lord
Expert
Justin, you lost me when you rated Andrew Johns with Clive Churchill, Wally Lewis, and Johnathan Thurston - Johns isn't on the same planet.
Chris
Guest
Interesting debate Cahill has played for a long period in the most popular league of any sport on the planet against some of the greatest footballers of all time. So at club level he was consistent for a long period. International level he has done the business at the biggest sporting tournament on the planet not once not twice but 3 times. He is without doubt one of Australia's greatest sports person
Punter
Guest
Not many in recent times are amongst the best in their sport in 2 completely different sports
Slim
Guest
If it's not Timmy, it's Anthony Mundine.
marron
Roar Guru
Don't forget. Trenerry boy is 100% Australia's everyman, the bellwether poster. I disagree with the premise of the article but sheesh.
marron
Roar Guru
There's a difference between being wooed by major clubs when you're in your prime and being considered by a major club as a possible bright prospect when you're playing in a lower division. I'll bet there's a huge amount of very good young players sir Alex had a look at and never signed that went on to do well and make him think, "I could have had him". The fact is, he didn't sign him, and neither did any other "big" club.
Sydneysider
Guest
I'm a cricket fan (test cricket and 50 over cricket BUT I hate T20), but even I am realistic in that eventually T20 will be the main form of the game IF the ICC and the game of cricket wants to have more nations playing the game. Sadly, test cricket won't do that.
Ian
Guest
LOL wtf is a mini country? you patronising clown. the Ranji Cup - warnie in the US. HAHA! you have a perpetual bee in your bonnet because football is more popular.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I was being a little tongue in cheek - and used a fairly arbitrary height. Of course the 'can largely forget it' is a nod both to the 'largeness' required but also that yes - and I recall Phil Smyth and Shane Heal all too well - but, certainly in basketball a few extra inches tend to not hurt.
Sydneysider
Guest
Perry, if the sub continental expats are going to have an influence on those nations with cricket, then it will be through T20, not test match cricket. There are more nations that play T20 but once again, you are looking at around 12 nations who are competitive. Anyway, Don Bradman is a legend of Australian sport and the game of cricket, but cricket will never overtake football on a global scale.
Perry Bridge
Guest
I often find this a somewhat contorted discussion. When there are a lot of mini countries in Europe : Consider this Europe land area : 10.18 mill km2 Australia (7.69) + India (3.28) combined : 10.98 mill km2 Europe about 50 countries, Aust and India 2 countries Europe Pop'n : ~750 mill Australia (~24mill) and India (~1.25 bill) : ~1.25 billion Sometimes just because a region is broken into independent nations - it doesn't mean that 'international' is better. The Ranji Cup domestic cricket tournament in India might be compared to any continental international tournament. The irony now too though is that India (+ Pak) is populating the world with cricketers. So - cricket is becoming more widespread but not so much on a cultural basis. Warnies adventure in the US illustrates this - there's a strong welcoming market......of expats.
Frank's Grandson aka the next next Supreme Leader
Guest
Not to mention player of the tournament at the 2011 Asian Cup with the winning goal against Iraq. His winning goal against Uruguay to get us into the Confederations Cup Final. Numerous games where he dominated the opposition. I can't think of many games where Tim has dominated the other team as far as controlling the game goes. He's always been good to pop up on the end of something though. It wasn't just injuries but the fact they didn't play that many games until we joined Asia. Tim has emerged from the shadows of H and Dukes due to his longevity but when the were in the team Tim was often on the bench. Can you imagine if we were coming through Asia when they started? Their stats would be much better too.
Frank's Grandson aka the next next Supreme Leader
Guest
So how much money did Sir Alex bid for Tim while he was at Everton? I've heard that United has a bit of money to throw around after all. You can't bring loyalty into it either. He's had 4 professional clubs which is about the standard for most players. To suggest he'd have knocked back a genuine offer to a big club (not that any arrived) is laughable.
Frank's Grandson aka the next next Supreme Leader
Guest
United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Juventus, Barcelona, the Milans the list goes on of clubs that wanted to sign Kewell. He was at one stage the hottest left-sided player on the planet. He was the Gareth Bale of his day. Tim as great as he has been for Australia was never considered the best in his position or in the best XI of any BPL season. Longevity with the national team you can give to Tim but even up to 2011 Kewell was still our best player which he capped off with the Player of the Tournament at Asian Cup. Tim was always behind the likes of a fit Kewell and Viduka and has only really taken over once they stepped away. Despite his injuries Harry has played more games and has more goals in the Premier League. In fact he is number 10 in the All-time goal scoring midfielders in the Premier League. Remember Harry cracked the Premier League as a 17 year old left back compared to Tim's debut for Everton at the age of 25. Skill wise it's not even a contest. Kewell, Viduka, Okon, Zelic etc are all technically better footballers. Cahill is the most productive Socceroo but greatest Australian footballer? No way. Bradman was the greatest Australian cricketer and the greatest in his sport. If Tim wasn't even the greatest proponent of his sport in Australia than how can he rate up their with Bradman?
Kaks
Roar Guru
Damn it, hate it when you're right Fuss - on the rare occasion that you are ;)
Ronaldo
Guest
Where would "The Don" have ranked if he had played for Bangladesh? What level of national success would Bangladesh have garnered if "The Don" had played for them? That scenario is about matched by Tim Cahill being destined to spend his international career playing for Australia. He has been great on the pitch for his country & a credit to himself & his country off the pitch.
Perry Bridge
Guest
#Punter You lost me at 'other parts of their body' and completely lost me when you stated the goalkeeper CAN use his hands. And no mention of the side line throw in. Simples - except where it isn't!!!!
Ian
Guest
Steve is struggling.
Ian
Guest
'being top 10 in a sport played by 100 times less people than football means you are still better than any footballer not in the top 1000 of all time footballers'. simplistically is accurate.. being top 10 in a sport played in one country, and number one in half of one country, with 500 professional athletes for example is less significant than being in the top 5000 in the global sport.
maximus182
Roar Guru
Cahill is an Australian legend. I nearly agree with the spot you provide him behind the great Sir Don. Any new stadium in Sydney should be named the Tim Cahill Arena or give reference to him in some way.