Tim Cahill is officially coming to the A-League – after months of speculation and rumour, Melbourne City have properly announced the signing, on a two-year deal.
However, the deal also contains a third year – not on Melbourne City’s playing list, but as part of its coaching staff.
“I am incredibly excited to have signed with Melbourne City and ultimately the City Football Group. There is real ambition and purpose here, qualities that are immensely important to me,” said Cahill.
“The Club is completely attuned to the opportunity for the game in this country; investing significantly in facilities, the development of young players and in giving back at the grassroots level. For me that makes this the ideal place to be. I am here to contribute as much as I can to both the Club and, where possible, to the further development of football here in Australia.
“My immediate focus is on getting to know my team-mates and our pre-season preparations. I’m excited about the quality of the squad that I am joining and the opportunity to win silverware. I’m looking forward to the challenge of testing and proving myself in this league.”
Melbourne City coach John v’ant Schip said that having Cahill join the team would help City realise some of its goals in the league, and that he expected him to form a good partnership with Burno Fornaroli.
“We have very ambitious targets at Melbourne City; we want to win every time we step on the pitch and in doing so we want to bring success for our fans who have been so loyal to us. Tim is an important part of realizing that ambition. The depth and breadth of his experience will be very important to us on the field and also in the dressing room,” said v’ant Schip.
“He is without doubt one of the most loved sports stars in this country, and I think the fact that he is back in his home country is important to the fans, and is fantastic for us as a Club.
“I see in Cahill and Bruno Fornaroli a beautiful footballing partnership – we are very focused on our pre-season preparations and the time that the team have together now is very important.”
However while it’s a big signing for Melbourne City, it is arguably an even bigger signing for the A-League as a whole, as they have put significant work into getting Australia’s brightest star home.
FFA CEO David Gallop said:
“Tim Cahill is a huge addition to the A-League and to Melbourne City FC. A player with his passion for the game, and the records that he holds for the Socceroos, is going to be a tremendous asset.
“The A-League is the fastest growing league in Australia. With two million people now playing football every year, the future is bright for our sport, and players like Tim Cahill are only going to accelerate that growth.
“He is a fantastic role model for young Australians who aspire to play at the top level.”
Paul
Guest
It’s just a shame that Brisbane failed to meet payer payments yesterday and several, including Jamie MacLaren, are going to court today to get a release from their contracts. #FFAepicFAIL
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Exactly, local based players will be under Ange's personal guidance and in better condition for our home Socceroo games instead of travelling for 21 hours from London or New York like Mooy or Rogic for example.
Evan Askew
Guest
I think both you and Kaks make valid points.
Sydneysider
Guest
I hope you are right Bob, but I'm being a bit more conservative and hoping for at least $60 million per year for the next TV deal (excluding Socceroos matches which are under licence to the AFC?). I just hope that football can continue to grow and the A-League can expand to more than 10 clubs one day.
Nemesis
Guest
Is it a bit rich for the FFA to pay a fee to Tim Cahill? First we have to investigate how much FFA is paying. Next we should investigate what the FFA gets in return for the payment. Finally we should ask if this funding is from existing revenue or new sources of revenue. From an article by Ray Gatt in today's Australian newspaper, the FFA is paying Cahill $500,000. Is that a lot of money? It depends on what the FFA recoups. Cahill will be the marketing face of the A-League for the next 2 years. I don't know if $250,000 a year is normal, or excessive. Regardless I think the risk is minimal. I think Tim Cahill marketing the A-League will be a more effective marketing than any other alternative marketing strategy costing $250,000 per year. Finally is this $500,000 being paid by the FFA to Tim Cahill coming from existing revenue? I don't know. Perhaps the FFA has already lined up sponsorship. Perhaps, Foxtel is providing some of the funding. If a Foxtel subscription is worth $1000 per year, Foxtel just needs 250 people to not drop their Foxtel subscriptions to pay the FFA component of Tim's wage. Even if there are no sponsors and Foxtel is not paying, as long as Tim Cahill provides the FFA with $500,000 revenue over the next 2 years that it would not have obtained without Tim Cahill, then the investment pays for itself. Is Melbourne City the wealthiest club in the A-League? I've never seen that mentioned. From what I've seen Victory has the highest turnover and profits. Sydney FC would have the 2nd highest turnover, Western Sydney probably the 2nd highest profits. Melbourne City has a wealthy owner. Wealthy owners may own hundreds of businesses. It doesn't make each business they own wealthy.
Post hoc
Guest
And you need to learn comprehension, where did I mention Football Park? I clearly said Etihad.
Ian Whitchurch
Guest
Post Hoc, You need to learn a lot more history. Football Park was established in 1971, and the AFL never owned an interest in it.
Mark
Guest
In the short term it definitely will. Kewell boosted attendances marginally at Victory home games (noting Victory already had a large fan base) and there was quite a bump at away games, at least for the first couple of times he played each team (the novelty does wear off after a couple of appearances). I think his first game in Newcastle is still one of the Jets' highest attended games...it was the game where they hung the 'Newcastle' banner that you still see used in media. The move will be a success in the short term without doubt. But more important is whether it will be a success in the long-term by permanently bumping up attendances and TV viewers. People above have already said that the fans that came along to see Villa left as soon as he did. It wasn't much better with Sydney FC and ADP. How many of the people who attend a City game or tune in on TV to watch Cahill play are going to become rusted on fans? That will determine whether this move is a genuine success or not. At least, it has more chance of being a genuine success than signing someone like Ronaldinho.
Post hoc
Guest
Because he will be playing week in week out, he will be local based, so minimise travel for him to come into camp etc
Post hoc
Guest
I think you will find, Timmy or is it Darren? will roam a little more
Post hoc
Guest
You mean how the Victorian Government gifted Etihad to the AFL. Not every sport has a fairy godmother of a state government. The rest of us have to you know deal with normal governments
Cameron
Roar Guru
How will this help get the Socceroos to Russia 2018? Might help Cahill but how does a move from China to Australia all of a sudden help the national team to the World Cup? It appears before Cahill signed for City that we were already on track.
Cameron
Roar Guru
Not when you consider Villa already did this and where did all of those "fans" go?
Aaron
Roar Rookie
Melbourne City can use all the help they can get. This should be good for the crowd figures as well.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
I understand he's on a deal of about $7M for 3 years, which is less than ADPs $4M a year, plus he has to do promotional stuff and appearances for the FFA, so its a reasonable deal and I think that most people believe its a bigger signing and will generate more return. He's certainly got the media attention in Sydney, despite the Olympics. Wait ill he actually arrives next week and starts talking up the A-League and the Socceroos from within Australia.
AZ_RBB
Guest
I think City have 6 Friday night fta games in the first 10 round. Great test of many KPIs there.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
I'd be very surprised if Tim Cahill didn't double City's non-derby matches home attendances and noticeably improve attendances at away games too, especially in Sydney. Tim's value is not just on the field, its off the field as well. Don't forget his great work with charities and the Tim Cahill Football Foundation and Tim Cahill Football Academy. He has already put in a lot of his own money and time for Australian football, before he even starts his first A-League game. The FFA were very happy to chip in $1M a year to get him here, because it includes his time to promote the game, media appearances and marketing. He is also in demand in the general advertising industry as a brand name. They will get back what they invested plus interest in increased revenues and an increased media deal at the end of the season. The FFA doubling their existing $40M a year media deal looks very achievable now and $100M a year is not out of the question. Its all very positive and very exciting! It is understood Optus, Seven, Nine and Ten networks are already talking to the FFA trying to secure TV rights, confident football can attain significantly higher ratings that it does now on public broadcaster SBS. Incumbent rights holder Fox Sports is also very keen to retain its Pay TV rights, according to chief executive Patrick Delany. This doesn't include the overseas and online rights to show A-League matches and the finals series from 2017, which could add another $30M a year or more.
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Absolutely, the A-League will go broke within a week, now they have spent all their money on Cahill. FFA should all resign right now!
Bob Brown
Roar Guru
Been waiting all week for this news. This is fantastic for the A-League and Australian football and will help get Tim and the Socceroos into Russia 2018. The usual A-League hating multiple personality negative cynics are out in force again, but try and be a bit more positive fellas. The progress football is making in Australia is nothing short of Amazing and all Australians should be very proud.
AZ_RBB
Guest
And that was in a very poor season for SFC. Bit of success and finals football and that could push 20k.