Tim Cahill signs off: ‘I’ve pushed myself the the limit’

With a broad grin on his face, Tim Cahill enjoyed a final spar with the media who have tracked his remarkable career.

Tim Cahill on the ball on Tuesday night in his final appearance for the Socceroos. Picture: Brett Costello

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With a broad grin on his face, Tim Cahill enjoyed a final spar with the media who have tracked his remarkable career, laughing at its twists and turns and the attempts to be ahead of the game in reporting it.

Now officially an ex-international after his farewell cameo against Lebanon on Tuesday night, Cahill recalled gratefully the months of attempts to have him qualified to play for Australia after a youth appearance for Samoa had threatened to block his Australian dreams.

More than a century of caps — and 50 goals — later, the fruits of that campaign will last the test of time, and Cahill acknowledged those who had covered that career as it unfolded.

“We've got to be honest, we've tested each other,” Cahill said. “I've played my whole life like a chess board.

Tim Cahill goes up for a header against Lebanon on Tuesday night. Picture: Getty Images

“No one has known any single move or what's happening, other than my last one going back to Millwall.

“I've always been very protective and methodical because that's my domain. What I do on the pitch, I own that. Off the pitch, you own that.

“But it didn't dictate who I was or am. It's been fun, and I don't think there's really been anything negative. I honestly can say there's not much more I could have done.”

Cahill recalled the work of former national team coach Frank Farina, team manager Bonita Mersiades and journalist Mike Cockerill for creating the springboard for his career by getting FIFA to change its rules.

Tim Cahill on the ball on Tuesday night in his final appearance for the Socceroos. Picture: Brett Costello

“A lot of the media here have been there the whole journey, and that's the whole thing,” he said.

“Of course I think about it, but I've not looked back. I've attacked every single moment, and when I've put on that jersey, you've seen it.

“Go through every game, it doesn't matter if it's Bangladesh away, Netherlands in the World Cup, Germany when I got my red card (in 2010) - you name it, I've pushed myself to the limit.

“I didn't come for a farewell game (on Tuesday night), I came to score, be proactive, look fit - to play football and win.”

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Originally published as Tim Cahill signs off: ‘I’ve pushed myself the the limit’