When you think about Lucas Neill in action, you think of a player always ready to make a challenge, lead from the front and bring the ball out of defence. As captains go, he was a heart-on-the-sleeve lead-by-example kinds guy who meets a challenge head on.
He is a major figure in Australian and Asian football history and the recent news of Neill’s bankruptcy was sad to hear.
Worse were comments from Robbie Slater who said he saw his fellow former Socceroo out and about in Sydney but that Neill blanked him.
It could be that Slater’s criticism of the defender in the latter stages of his international career played a part. Preferring not to talk to high-profile media commentators like Slater and Mark Bosnich does not necessarily mean that Neill has gone Garbo.
Yet there have been rumours for a while and perhaps Sydney Morning Herald’s headline of a ‘bankrupt recluse’ wasn’t completely over-the-top.
When meeting and talking to the player over the years, he was always thoughtful, opinionated and articulate – traits that not all appreciate in a football player.
Neill has long divided opinion.
In November 2012, I was at Hwaseong Stadium to witness history in the making – a Robbie Cornthwaite winner for the Socceroos against South Korea.
It was a game with most of the big names on both teams not making the long trip to the middle of the Korean countryside on a freezing night.
Lucas Neill was there though. I wondered why.
Coaching staff said it was because he was the captain and wanted to represent his country everywhere it played, anywhere it played.
Journalists said it was because he was worried about losing his place to a younger rival if he didn’t play.
As a Blackburn Rovers fan, he may not have been the most talented player to wear the famous blue and white halves but he was a great, committed and passionate servant for almost six seasons.
That’ s a lengthy spell and it was natural that he wanted to move on. Some supporters, I believe to be a minority but it’s hard to know for sure, gave him a hard time when he left. It was unfair and shows how fickle and hypocritical fans can be.
Blackburn followers are used to their best players heading onto bigger stages. Supporters always said that the stars should just be honest when they leave and not –like Craig Bellamy at around the same time –deny they are leaving until just before they actually leave.
Neill actually did what fans say they want players to do. He was honest. A year before the end of his contract, he announced that he was not going to sign a new one and proceeded to give his best until he finally departed. Some supporters didn’t like it.
The defender also made the cardinal error of turning down Liverpool to join West Ham United for more money – or at least that is what the tabloids said and the simplistic mercenary narrative stuck in England and Australia.
At home though, the criticism went further. Some said he felt entitled to a national team spot. Perhaps but on the occasions that I interviewed him, it was clear that here was a professional who wanted to play for Australia as long as possible. There’s nothing wrong with that.
It was sad that he was jeered at a Socceroo game in Sydney. For someone who had given so much to the national team, it must have been deeply hurtful. It wasn’t deserved. Whether he was still good enough to play or not was not his decision, but he was always desperate to represent his country.
I remember seeing him at Saitama Stadium in June 2013, immense in defence as Australia were moments away from picking up the most famous of wins against Japan in a huge qualification match for the 2018 World Cup. At that point, he looked set for Brazil. It didn’t happen and his international career was over and that must have been a major blow.
Time and time again, he bounced back from mistakes and bad times on the pitch to prove his worth. To paraphrase a popular saying in the north of England, ‘Lucas Neill has never been backward in coming forward’. Hopefully, it will ring true once more.
Midfielder
Guest
F I remember when you moved from an Tassie you were concerned that you were going to a NRL area and without putting words in your mouth or words in a post you were concerned that you would swap and AFL environment for an NRL environment. I posted to you at the time you will find it different and that the Hunter was actually a Football area and Newcastle more RL but overall both codes and fans got on very well. You expressed doubt at the time. I have always wondered were your concerns right or was my advice right and can you enlighten us on what you see as key differences between the two environments particularly pertaining to Football.. Thanks
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Declaring yourself bankrupt these days doesn't mean you are broke. Lucas obviously received some bad advice about risky investments and lost a lot of money, but it doesn't mean he's penniless and destitute. His lawyers and accountants probably came up with a good scheme to write off his bad debts, while retaining most of his personal fortune. Some of the world's richest people have declared themselves bankrupt at one stage or another while still living a billionaires lifestyle. On the football front, at his best, Lucas was one of the Socceroos greatest ever captains and defenders. I still have a lot of admiration and grand memories of watching him play. I think we just need to focus on the positives and remember what a great career he had. Something most professional Australian footballers will only ever dream about.
Fadida
Guest
That's my read exactly Sydneysider. People may talk about footballers being money drtiven, and the whole "Luca$h" thing, but I think he's a shattered man, whose greatest love has been taken away, by Father Time. I know when I stopped playing "proper" football I was devastated, and quite lost for some time. Neill may be rich and famous but the evidence, dropping out of the public eye immediately, ceasing his social media presence etc, all point to a broken man. I may be wrong, I hope I am. And yes, it's time to get him back into the game
Bondy
Guest
I hope Lucas settles down with life now , he served his nation admirably on the football field .. .
Fadida
Guest
Tas to Newcastle Mid.
Caltex & SBS support Australian Football
Guest
C'mon Realfootball, you once liken me to Frankenstein with a bolt through my neck whilst I was absent from this site... Fuss, is right you seem to think you have some special right for insulting everyone on this site that has a different opinion to yours... Go get a life...! :D
whiskeymac
Guest
He gave his all on the field and for the team. He understood his role off it too. At a time when the transition into asian comps and a new professional domestic league was at times bumpy he was steady and professional and a very worthy captain and figure head ( with tim and harry). Am sure he'll be welcome as a pundit if he wanted it.
Realfootball
Guest
Did you have your sense of humour surgically removed, or were you born without it? Please see Caltex's random insult above, which was completely unprovoked and came when I have barely posted in a month. Having said that, it is nice to know that I am actually famous for something.
Sydneysider
Guest
I think it's sad what has allegedly happened to Lucas (I still don't think he is completely bankrupt ie. Panama Papers and off shore bank accounts and all that sort of stuff). But the most striking thing about this whole situation is the fact that there is no contact from his Twitter or Facebook feeds for 2 years (basically from when he found out from Ange that he wasn't going to be in the 2014 world cup squad). Lsat Twitter post was about Dylan Tombides RIP 19/04/2014. Last Facebook post was with Ange Postecoglou posing with the Asian Cup trophy 1 year out from the start of Asian Cup 10/01/2014. He's closed his life off from everything from that point. I'm not saying he should communicate via social media but it's an indicator of his mental state from that point onwards. He was obviously sad and disappointed at that time of his life. Things may have gotten worse. I truly believe that the football community in Australia (starting with Mark Bosnich and a few others) need to open their arms and try to get him back into the family and help him out. Let's not forget his achievements as a player for this country. I know it's going to be difficult but someone's got to reach out to him and tell him that we care and he should be involved with the game in some capacity in this country.
Fussball IUL
Roar Rookie
Isn't it odd how you launch these personal insults, but you are famous for piously condemning others. Lots of squealers on this website who obviously don't own a mirror.
Realfootball
Guest
He was also polished and articulate. Now we have Jedinak.
Realfootball
Guest
Good Lord, I'm agreeing with you. I must have more Neanderthal DNA in me than I thought.
Realfootball
Guest
Fussball's seal of approval is reserved exclusively for himself.
Realfootball
Guest
Thanks Caltex. Any insult from you is, by definition, a complement. God forbid that I should ever do anything that warrants your Quasimodiac approval.
BigAl
Guest
Nothing ruins a man more than financial ruin.
Midfielder
Guest
F It was you that moved from Melbourne to Newcastle roughly three years ago ... or have I got you confused with someone else
fadida
Guest
Fuss didn't agree with it, so by extension it is worthless :)
Marc
Guest
I heard that he shouted the bar at one of the Australian-themed bars in Sheperd's Bush, London after the Socceroos beat England 3-1. He seems like a "good bloke" and at his best was a terrific footballer.
Midfielder
Guest
Good post Griffo
Midfielder
Guest
C Agree