Asian Cup 2015: Tim Cahill reveals fear over losing Socceroos spot drove him to career-extending diet

SUPERSTAR Tim Cahill has revealed that a fear for his Socceroos future drove him to drop to 75kg — his lightest weight in 18 years.

Socceroos train ahead of their Asian Cup opener at Olympic Park, Tim Cahill trains. Melbourne. 4th January 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch.

SUPERSTAR Tim Cahill has revealed that a fear for his Socceroos future drove him to drop to 75kg — his lightest weight in 18 years.

Cahill declared he would not have made the 2014 World Cup if he had moved to the A-League or stayed in England.

Since starting on the bench in coach Ange Postecoglou’s first international 14 months ago, Cahill has carried the team and become Australia’s record goalscorer with 36 goals in 76 games.

On the eve of the Socceroos’ Asian Cup opener against Kuwait Cahill, who turned 35 a month ago, said a strict diet has rejuvenated him after concerns about his Socceroos spot.

PICK YOUR SOCCEROOS XI WITH OUR SQUAD SELECTOR

WHO WILL WIN THE ASIAN CUP? TRY OUR TOURNAMENT PREDICTOR

A slimmed-down Tim Cahill has revealed his has dropped to 75kg to retain his Socceroos spot.

“All I said was that I wanted a chance,’’ Cahill (below) said.

“Sometimes you need to know when to walk away, but I wasn’t ready to walk away.

“I made a decision to take my training regime to another level and it’s showed.

“I monitored my training, what I ate, every minute. I’ve got stricter with my diet, you need to as you get older.

“I’m 75 kilos — that’s how much I weighed when I was 17 and I joined Millwall.”

ASIAN CUP BUILD-UP HAS ‘ROOS BOUNCING

THE DAY TWO OLD PROS GROUNDED WILD CHILD KRUSE

The former Everton star, who has transformed from attacking midfielder to star striker, said access to New York Red Bulls’ state-of-the art facilities since 2012.

The stats have been fed back daily to the Socceroos’ medical staff.

“If I came back to the A-League would I have gone to the World Cup? No chance,’’ he said.

“If I stayed in the Premier League? No chance. That’s no disrespect, that’s reality.

“I made the decision to go to the MLS to play in another World Cup.

“I was lucky that the professionalism of a club like New York Red Bulls had everything there for me.’’

Tim Cahill has a laugh with coach Ange Postecoglou.

While former teammates Lucas Neill, Mark Schwarzer, Luke Wilkshire and Brett Holman have retired or been moved on by Postecoglou, Mark Bresciano and Cahill are the only remaining veterans.

But Cahill conceded he was unsure of his position when Postecoglou replaced Holger Osieck in October 2013.

“I don’t think I spoke to Ange until four camps in,’’ Cahill said. “But it didn’t matter, you respect your boss and you’re there to play football.

“When Ange first came in I was just part of the squad, but I knew I would get my opportunity.

“I was happy because I knew we found a manager that would put every single player, including A-League players, on the same playing field.

“I just sat back and took in how he affected the players and implemented the style. I just felt he brought an authenticity back to being Australian and putting on a Socceroos shirt.”

Originally published as Asian Cup 2015: Tim Cahill reveals fear over losing Socceroos spot drove him to career-extending diet