Socceroos striker Tim Cahill has announced his retirement from international football, after 107 appearances and 50 goals across a record-breaking career.
Cahill, 38, retires as the most capped outfield player in Australian football history and the country’s record goalscorer. In 2006 he became the first Australian to score in the World Cup, and repeated the feat in 2010 and 2014. He made the squad for this year’s tournament, but made only a brief appearance and failed to score.
“No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country,” he wrote on Twitter. “Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge.”
Today’s the day that I’m officially hanging up my boots on my international career with the Socceroos.
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) July 17, 2018
No words can describe what it has meant to represent my country. Massive thank you to everyone for the support throughout all my years wearing the Australian badge. pic.twitter.com/gqnM1HWA7S
After making his debut against South Africa in 2004 Cahill came to be widely regarded as Australia’s greatest ever striker, and arguably the nation’s greatest player. His goals rescued the team at crucial moments, and punctuated a period of sustained success for the national team’s “golden generation”.
His two goals against Japan in 2006 secured Australia’s first win at a World Cup, in the Socceroos’ first appearance at the competition in 32 years.
In 2014, his sensational long-range volley against the Netherlands was nominated for the Puskas award for goal of the year. The next year, he was the team’s top scorer as Australia won the 2015 Asian Cup on home soil.
His last goal for Australia – a trademark header – sent the team through in a World Cup qualifying playoff against Syria in the second half of extra time.
Well played Tim. You did well mate. I told you you would all those years ago. 👊🏼😁👍🏼😁😁😁😁 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼On to the next stage.
— Frank Farina (@Frank_Farina) July 17, 2018
One of the best to ever wear an Aussie shirt. Well done brother ✊🏾 https://t.co/7VBRVaNDmx
— Archie Thompson (@10Archie) July 17, 2018
The Sydney-born striker retires as Australia’s record World Cup goalscorer, record Asian Cup goalscorer and the first Socceroo to appear at four World Cups.
At club level, Cahill has played for Millwall, Everton, New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua and Melbourne City. In his eight years at Everton he scored 56 goals across 226 appearances, and was named the club’s player of the season for 2004–05.
Cahill has not yet confirmed if he will continue playing at club level, having been released by Millwall at the end of last season.
