Australian football icon Tim Cahill will officially be playing in the A-League for the 2016-17 season after Melbourne City announced his signing on Thursday morning.
Cahill has signed a three-year deal with City that will tie him down to a coaching role after his decorated playing career ends.
We are pleased to announce the signing of @Tim_Cahill! #WelcomeCahill #together
📰 https://t.co/G0vaCMTPLl pic.twitter.com/qfkOIZEmmC
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) August 10, 2016
Leaving Sydney to join Millwall in the late 1990s, Cahill has since gained a wealth of footballing experience at the highest levels – starring for Everton from 2004-2012 and also plying his trade for this likes of New York Red Bulls, Shanghai Shenhua and Hangzhou Greentown.
He is better known for his role among the Australian national side, now with 91 appearances and 47 goals under his belt in the green and gold. The images of Cahill leaping into the air to head home a cross and save the Socceroos have become nearly too many to list, although the highlight might just be the brace he scored against Japan in Australia’s first World Cup game in 36 years.
Cahill said he was excited to make the move, saying City matched his “ambition and purpose”.
“I am incredibly excited to have signed with Melbourne City and ultimately the City Football Group,” Cahill said.
“There is real ambition and purpose here, qualities that are immensely important to me.
“The club is completely attuned to the opportunity for the game in this country; investing significantly in facilities, the development of young players and in giving back at the grassroots level.
“For me that makes this the ideal place to be. I am here to contribute as much as I can to both the Club and, where possible, to the further development of football here in Australia.”
JOIN the @AUSFIFA.com Pro Circuit Main Event on Saturday at @Sporting_Globe! Event details: https://t.co/OjvXkqvrjb pic.twitter.com/fcZXftfidV
— Outside90 (@Outside90) August 10, 2016
Cahill will wear No.17 and will touch down in Melbourne in the coming days.
What are your thoughts? Let us know by dropping a comment below via our Facebook comment box. Make sure you follow us on Twitter @Outside90 and like us on Facebook.
