Timothy Cahill (born December 6, 1979 in Sydney) is a midfield player and is widely regarded as one of the brightest rising stars in Australian football (soccer). In the 2003-2004 season, Tim Cahill was the workhorse in Millwall's heroic campaign which led Millwall to the FA Cup final for the first time in their history and a UEFA Cup place. Cahill made 250 appearances for The Lions, scoring 57 goals. Before the start of the 2004-2005 season, Cahill signed for Everton, for whom he has become a top player and earned respect throughout the Premiership.
The midfielder only made his debut for the Australian national team, in 2004, as a result of his having played for Samoa at Under-20 level at the age of 14. His debut was against South Africa in June of that year. He participated at the 2004 Olympic Games. Tim was named Oceania Footballer of the Year for 2004, joining Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Brett Emerton, Christian Karembeu and Mark Bosnich among some of the past winners of the award, which has existed since 1988. On 16 November 2005 at Sydney's Telstra Stadium, Cahill played a full-game as the Socceroos defeated Uruguay and qualified for the 2006 World Cup in a dramatic penalty shoot-out.
Cahill was the official player and players' player of the season at Everton for the 2004/2005 season after he finished as the club's top scorer. In August 2005 Cahill's contract at Everton was extended on improved terms reflecting the impact he had made at the club.
On the 18th of January 2006, Cahill showed humility rarely seen on the soccer field when he had the good grace not to celebrate his winning goal for Everton against Millwall in the 3rd round replay of the F.A. Cup, stating, "They gave me my big break, it would have been like kicking them in the teeth."
