Tim Cahill arrived in England in the late 1990s, as a young Australian footballer set upon a professional career at the highest level. Earning his first break as a teenager at Millwall, he established himself as a combative and physically impressive central midfielder with an eye for goal – and in six years at the south London club he experienced promotion and played in an FA Cup final against Manchester United. His 2004 move to the Premier League with Everton saw him link up with David Moyes, and under the Scotsman Cahill would enjoy a hugely successful eight-year spell at Goodison.
In this exclusive Masterclass with The Coaches’ Voice, the recently retired Cahill – who is working towards completing his coaching badges – explains his development as a player in the 14 years he spent in English football. He charts his maturing from an energetic box-to-box midfielder in a 4-4-2 formation at Millwall into a more advanced, attacking midfield role under Moyes, and gives a fascinating insight into the way Everton made the most of his attacking instincts.