There have been some truly great names associated with Everton Football Club over the years.
From Dixie Dean to Alan Ball, countless giants of the game have worn the club’s famous blue jersey, with Howard Kendall’s squad of the 1980’s inspiring a terrace chant all of their own, such was their impact.
However, the Toffees have been starved of icons in the modern era. Duncan Ferguson’s passion and Andrei Kanchelskis’ wizardry inspired fans not so long ago, and Kevin Campbell’s heroic goalscoring record made him a Goodison favourite, but what about more recently?
For me, one player stands out amongst the crowd: Tim Cahill.
Joining from Millwall in the summer of 2004 for a paltry £1.5 million, Cahill exemplified David Moyes’ keen eye for a bargain. Finishing as the club’s top goal scorer in his debut campaign, the Australian international picked up the Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season as the Blues secured Champions League qualification.
A Ballon d’Or nominee in 2006, Cahill immediately endeared himself to Evertonians and became a stalwart in David Moyes’ starting XI. The first Everton player since Dixie Dean to score in 3 Anfield derbies, Cahill’s total of 5 Merseyside derby goals makes him one of the most prolific scorers of the modern era in Merseyside’s most important fixture.
56 Premier League goals in 226 appearances, the Australian international scored some of Goodison Park’s most memorable goals of the Moyes era, as his trademark headers obtained an iconic status almost as much as his corner flag celebration. Spending 8 years at the club, Cahill departed in 2012 for MLS side New York Red Bulls, but his legacy at Goodison remains.
Tenacious and committed, Cahill stayed loyal to the club as others sought opportunities elsewhere and established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the English top flight, earning himself the status as a modern Everton icon.