Bankruptcy, bitterness and hiding in Woolies: The sad, baffling Lucas Neill mystery

Lucas Neill was once Australian football’s inspiration leader, but it all fell apart for the tough as nails skipper in a sad state of affairs.

The great mystery of Lucas Neill.

Those waiting for Lucas Neill to hit back at some stinging comments from former Socceroos teammate Mark Viduka probably shouldn’t hold their breath.

The former Australia skipper suddenly disappeared from public view after missing a spot in Australia’s 2014 World Cup squad and, well, hasn’t really been heard from since.

It’s become one of Australian sport’s biggest recent mysteries — and saddest tales.

‘WE WOULDN’T EVEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER’: VIDUKA LIFTS LID ON KEWELL FEUD

Viduka, who held the Socceroos’ captaincy prior to Neill, ended a long media exile of his own to get some bad blood off his chest in an explosive interview with ESPN.

The legendary striker accused Neill of trying to undermine him at the 2007 Asian Cup and accused him of “sulking” amid an awkward transition of the captaincy under then-coach Graham Arnold.

It’s far from the first time Neill has had mud slung in his direction. While rightly regarded among Australia’s greatest ever footballers, Neill copped it over a perception he was money hungry during a career that featured many big-money moves across England, Turkey, the Middle East and Japan.

Lucas Neill.

Many believe it was the criticism he copped late in his playing career — both over his form and some controversial comments questioning the commitment of the next gen — that resulted in him turning his back on public life. Fox Sports’ Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich were among those calling for him to be replaced in 2013.

Slater is one of the few to have spotted Neill in Australia since, running into him at a shopping centre in Sydney’s north a few years ago. He went to approach him, and make amends, but claims Neill blanked him and hid in the pasta aisle in Woolworths.

“It was embarrassing, I was embarrassed,” Slater told Sportingnews of the incident.

“I just wanted to say hello. He could have had a crack at me, I wouldn’t have cared.

“He hasn’t done anything wrong…the only thing he is guilty of is disappearing at a time when the game needs him.

“His career should be celebrated. He should be a national hero.

“I can’t work out who he is angry with. FFA? Ange (Postecoglou)? Fans? The media? Or is it all of us?”

Former Socceroos boss Ange Postecoglou perhaps offered the biggest clue as to the reason for Neill’s reclusiveness in his 2016 book Changing the Game.

Making the tough decision not to take Neill to the 2014 World Cup due to a lack of game time, Postecoglou recalled Neill’s response was threatening to “go to ground” if he wasn’t picked again.

“It’s almost three years since that phone call and he hasn’t surfaced, so he was true to his word. He seems to have gone into hiding and I sort of wish that wasn’t so for one of our greatest-ever Socceroos,” Postecoglou wrote, also admitting he has some regrets ending Neill’s international career over the phone.

“Being the captain and leader of the country for such a long time, Lucas had had a celebrated career. Regrettably it finished on the end of a phone line.

“The end for Lucas shouldn’t have been a call from me telling him he wasn’t going to the 2014 World Cup. I wonder if he would have felt any better if I’d told him in person. Maybe I should have taken him out to dinner.”

Lucas Neill celebrates a World Cup qualifier victory over Iraq in Sydney, 2013.

The saddest part of Neill’s post-career story came in 2016 when it emerged he had been declared bankrupt in the UK, reportedly due to a series of disastrous investments., despite earning more than $40 million throughout his career.

SO WHERE IS HE NOW?

Approaching a decade since the last of his 96 appearances for the Socceroos, Neill remains lost to many in the Australian football community. Even his long-time agent from his playing days hasn’t spoken to or heard from him in seven years.

It’s believed the 42-year-old and his family now reside in Lancashire, where his Premier League dream took flight with Blackburn in 2001.

He has at least re-emerged onto the football scene, albeit as a spectator.

Neill’s son Marcus, a talented striker, joined Liverpool in 2010 and the Socceroos legend is regularly spotted at the club’s youth games.

Neill has also been involved coaching Marcus’ local cricket team, the Lowerhouse’s Fagan and Whalley Hornets — pictures in 2017 showing him umpiring like any other regular cricket dad.

Lowerhouse @FaganWhalley Hornets are U9's @lancs_league Cup Winners #congratulations #future pic.twitter.com/MF5UDGnPUt

— Lowerhouse Cricket Club 💛💙 (@LowerhouseCC) August 30, 2017

Former Socceroos skipper Lucas Neill may have disappeared from all footballing circles but he has surprisingly emerged in the cricketing scene.

Neill, it appears, has just been getting on with his life, without feeling the need to utter a word publicly about his Socceroos demotion, bankruptcy or the highs and lows of a remarkable career.

One day he may feel the need to do so, and there may well be two sides to the story when it comes to Viduka’s account of the controversial 2007 Asian Cup campaign.

Just don’t expect to hear Neill’s any time soon.

Originally published as Bankruptcy, bitterness and hiding in Woolies: The sad, baffling Lucas Neill mystery