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Just before the 2010 World Cup started, I interviewed Park Ji-sung. Then still with Manchester United, old Three-Lungs was always a gentleman and like many East Asian star players, pleasantly said nothing much.
I asked him whether he would one day play in the K-League. He was non-committal but it was obvious that he would not, and everyone knew it.
Even Korea, a country that takes proud possession of its successful overseas stars, never expected that they had to return home – some do, some don’t. Plenty hoped Park would, and it would have been a major boost for the K-League, but it was never really an issue.
In Australia, it seems that there is more expectation that prodigal sons come back to the roost. Another obvious difference is that players from down under tend to be a little more outspoken.
Tim Cahill seems to have upset some by not reportedly dismissing the chances of joining the A-League. Mocked and derided for claiming that the league did not match his vision, the Socceroo legend may be in danger of tarnishing his legacy.
Apart from the fact that the player denies he said what it is said he said, it doesn’t matter. Tried and convicted of ideas above his station, the public jury has spoken as if acting on behalf of battered and bruised corner flags around the world.
There seemed to be a certain amount of glee that Cahill has seemingly ‘dissed’ the A-League. Like it was his time to be taken down a notch or two. Maybe it was okay to get ideas above his station when he was lording it in the Premier League but now he is in China…
The word legend gets brandished more easily than imaginary yellow cards in a top European league game, but in Cahill’s case it is a perfectly fitting title. After over a decade of the most sterling Socceroo service he deserves to be judged on actions, not opinions. After what he has consistently done for Australian football, he should be allowed to run in the Melbourne Cup, get a walk-on part in Neighbours and sing with AC/DC.
Respected around Asia for giving everything every time on the pitch year after year, Cahill went to the China in the twilight of his career and excelled. It is not easy for foreign players to make a difference in the Middle Kingdom, especially those that are in their mid-thirties, but the former Millwall man did that and more. The fact that he was released says a lot more about the way Chinese clubs treat their imports than it does about Cahill. The fans wanted him to stay.
It was always likely that he would stay in China, and why not? This is an exciting time to be there, on and off the pitch.
Shanghai’s a great place to live. Hangzhou is a quick train ride away and it’s a club with plenty of youngsters and a coach taking charge of his first club. Cahill’s experience and leadership, as well as his goals, are needed.
There was always going to be some revisionism of Cahill. It is just the way the modern world and social media works. All I see is one of the most professional players in Asia, giving everything every time he crosses the white line, making the difference at those crucial moments and demanding high standards of himself and those around him.
Wherever he has gone, the fans have loved him. Millwall, Everton, New York and Shanghai. Fans from three continents appreciated him when he was there and were sorry when he left and as a player, you can’t ask for much more than that.
There is no reason for Australian fans to be any different, regardless of what he may or may not have said and whatever he actually thinks about the A-League. He may consider it to be the worst competition in the world but that doesn’t change what he has done. C
ahill has given so much to Australian football over the years and deserves the label of legend.
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