“When FFA announced the 2016-19 Strategic Plan in May, the marquee player issue was front and centre to rejuvenate the Hyundai A-League, and Tim Cahill was top of the wish list”, Gallop said.
Advertisement
The club did not say how much the deal was worth.
Cahill, 36, had always been linked to a move to Manchester City-owned club after the introduction of the A-League full season guest player rule for 2016-17, which allows star names to be paid above the salary cap, in addition to the club’s marquee signings. “There is real ambition and objective here, qualities that are immensely important to me”, Cahill said in a statement released by the club early on Thursday.
The Melbourne and Manchester clubs are both owned by Abu Dhabi-based City Football Group and the Australian team’s managing director Brian Marwood said the deal would include a third year for Cahill in a coaching capacity.
‘I am incredibly excited to have signed with Melbourne City and ultimately the City Football Group.
“My immediate focus is on getting to know my team-mates and our pre-season preparations”. His worldwide experience as a player on four different continents marries perfectly with City Football Group’s unique global footprint.
He joined Millwall in 1998, spending six years at the club before an eight-season spell at Premier League outfit Everton. “I’m looking forward to the challenge of testing and proving myself in this league”.
“Today’s news fits perfectly with our new marketing campaign to appeal to young families and convert more football participants into A-League fans”, said Gallop.
He left Everton in 2012 and joined the New York Red Bulls, before moving to China with Shanghai Shenhua previous year.
Cahill was sporting a Melbourne City FC polo in the shot. A player with his passion for the game, and the records that he holds for the Socceroos, is going to be a tremendous asset.
Advertisement
Cahill spent two and a half seasons with the Red Bulls, scoring 14 goals and adding 10 assists in 62 regular season appearances before leaving the club for the Chinese Super League early in 2015.
