Tim Cahill sat down with NewYorkRedBulls.com for an extensive Q&A session. In this installment, the first of four, the Australian midfielder discusses what went into his decision to leave Everton and join the Red Bulls.
Here's what Cahill had to say in his first interview since joining the New York Red Bulls:
"I think when I got the phone call on Saturday afternoon it was pretty surreal to hear New York Red Bulls, one of the most glamorous cities in the world, most iconic brand and Thierry Henry, Marquez. It was one of those moments where I thought, 'Is this real? Or is someone just saying something?' It was easy. I just said, listen, I’m 32 years old. I’ve been at Everton for eight years. I’ve been very loyal my whole career to the football clubs I’ve played for.
Tim Cahill Arrives
Millwall played a massive part of my career for six years. And then I moved on to Everton for eight years. I had loads of opportunities probably to try different things, but with a manager like David Moyes and Bill Kenwright, the chairman, I think loyalty is something that I learned at such a young age [as being] really important. Because I’ve run through brick walls for the club. It means so much to me. And it’s so emotional as well. Because they’re my teammates, it’s part of my life, it’s part of my family, which is so special. And it was a good fit. I never wanted to go to another Premier League club out of respect to the chairman and the gaffer and obviously the fans who mean so much to me. But to have this transition and this opportunity, I’m blessed. I’m in a privileged position.
All I’ve ever wanted to do my whole life as a kid was be a footballer. To play with some of the best in the world, to play with such a good product with the right people pushing the game in MLS. And I’ve traveled here for the last 10 years. Holiday, watching games, visiting stadiums, visiting different pitches – I knew it was right. It was right in my heart. It was right for my family. And I’m going to be part of a revolution.
I’m coming at 32 years old. The medical was really stringent. Seven hours, making sure that I’m in peak condition. And from there it’s me putting my heart and soul into New York. To show the fans that I’m not here to come for a holiday. I’m here to work hard. To run through brick walls.
All you can do as a footballer that’s played professionally for 15 years and done what I’ve done, is give everything. So New York Red Bulls is another massive chapter in my life. They want success and I want to help be part of that. It’s one of the most exciting things for me and my family now and everyone surrounded with me, it’s just a perfect transition.
It’s just nice to leave Everton in such high esteem and now have one of the biggest challenges facing myself in football."
In Saturday's installment, Cahill talks about his Everton teammates and how his relationships with Tim Howard and Landon Donovan helped influence his decision to join the New York Red Bulls.
