From Millwall to Melbourne City, here is Tim Cahill’s career through the years

FROM Millwall to Melbourne City, Socceroos’ hero Tim Cahill has had a storied professional career. Follow his remarkable journey ahead of his A-League debut.

This has been a familiar scene throughout Tim Cahill’s international and domestic career. Picture: Getty Images

AUSTRALIA’S favourite Socceroo son Tim Cahill’s career will come full circle on Saturday, returning to home soil for his first game in the A-League on Saturday night.

Born in Sydney, Cahill has forged a remarkable professional career that has spanned four continents, invariably leaving each of his clubs as a legend in the eyes of fans.

CAHILL SIGNS MEGA DEAL WITH MELBOURNE CITY

TIM CAHILL’S FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF MELBOURNE

Tim Cahill was a goal scoring machine at Milwall.

Millwall 1998-2004

After playing youth football with Sydney Olympic and Sydney United, Cahill travelled abroad, joining English second division club Millwall’s youth team in 1997. He played his first senior game as a baby-faced 18-year-old in 1999 and would go on to become a revered figure in club history, leading it to the second division title in 2001 and to the FA Cup final in 2004. His crowning glory might have been that goal against Sunderland in the semi final that helped propel them into the big dance against Manchester United.

Cahill’s acrobatic exploits were a fixture at Goodison Park.

Everton 2004-12

The Premier League came calling in 2004 and Everton signed him for the bargain basement price of £1.5 million. He made a mockery of that transfer fee, becoming an instant hit by leading the club’s goal tally in his first season. He would go on to become one of the club’s favourite sons, spending eight years Merseyside, captaining Everton and striking 68 goals in 256 appearances across all competitions. ‘Tiny Tim’ made his goal flag celebration a trademark and was known to dedicate his goals to a variety of causes, including victims of the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires.

Club Golden Boot winner, MLS Best XI, Supporters Shield, Tim Cahill did plenty at New York Red Bulls. Picture: Getty Images

New York Red Bulls 2012-15

Injury-riddled and losing his impact, Everton was ready to move one of their finest players on. And the land of the free beckoned. By mid-2012, Cahill was on the new frontier of Major League Soccer. In his first full season he scored 14 goals in 62 appearances, winning the club’s golden boot in 2013 and being named in the MLS Best XI. He led the club to the Supporter’s Shield, finishing on top of the league and undoubtedly grew the sport in America. But things soured next season, with many fans turning on him after he was squeezed out of the starting line up and fell out with coach Mike Petke.

Tim Cahill celebrates after scoring for Shanghai Shenhua.

Shanghai Shenhua 2015-16

Cahill spent less than a year at Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua, but was part of the side that made it all the way to the Chinese FA Cup final. He made 16 appearances for the club, before announcing on Twitter that his contract had been mutually terminated after falling out with the club’s new coach Gregorio Manzano. The decision sparked huge rumours he would resurrect his career in the A-League, but he had one more stop before then...

Cahill brandishes a Hangzhou Greentown scarf after his debut with the club. Picture: Getty Images

Hangzhou Greentown 2016

Despite the split from Shenhua, Cahill’s oriental experience wasn’t quite done, with Hangzhou Greentown coming in with a five-month deal to keep him in the Chinese Super League. While he had been contacted by the A-League, Football Federation Australia chief David Gallop claimed Cahill said the competition “couldn’t meet his needs”. Cahill denied the claims, saying he was hurt and that the fact the transfer window had closed made it impossible for him to return.

Tim Cahill has brought a renewed focus on Melbourne City and the A-League. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Melbourne City 2016-??

And that appeared true when the worst kept secret in the A-League was officially unveiled on August 11 this year, with Cahill signing a three-year deal with Melbourne City. He’s only been in City colours for two months, but the excitement ahead of Saturday night’s Melbourne Derby is palpable, and his move, along with the likes of other Socceroos, like Brett Holman and James Troisi, has sparked broad interest in the competition.

This has been a familiar scene throughout Tim Cahill’s international and domestic career. Picture: Getty Images

Socceroos 2004-??

Cahill has an undying love for the Socceroos. He never shirked a Socceroos call up despite pressure from his clubs to stay put. Even at age 36, he is still going strong for the Socceroos. A-League research shows Cahill is more popular in Australia than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and his exploits in national team colours are the chief reason why.

LISTEN UP:Herald Sun football writers Matt Windley and David Davutovic join the pod to discuss the Socceroos’ World Cup qualifiers and look ahead to the huge Melbourne derby.