New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill just turned 35 and has played in three World Cups and over 500 professional games, but says he has no plans to hang up his boots any time soon.
Speaking to the Australian Associated Press, Cahill iterated his desire to sign another multi-year contract when his Red Bulls deal is up after the 2015 season with a view towards continuing to feature internationally for Australia.
"The future's bright," Cahill said. "I've got another year left on my New York Red Bulls contract. The main feeling for me is every time I'm at a club, I like to be there for a long time."
Cahill made over 200 appearances apiece for Millwall and Everton in a 14-year career in England before making the move to New York in 2012. In two-and-a-half seasons in MLS, Cahill has tallied 14 goals and 10 assists over 62 regular-season appearances, plus a goal in each of New York's last two playoff appearances.
In addition to his Red Bulls duties in 2014, Cahill starred for the Socceroos in the World Cup, scoring one of the goals of the tournament. He faces a similarly grueling schedule in 2015, when he will start the year playing for Australia in the Asian Cup, which they will host, before re-joining the Red Bulls. Despite the high number of games, though, Cahill inisted he was as fit as ever.
"Listen, I was 35 this month and my weight hasn't changed, my fat hasn't changed in 18 years," he said. "Physically, I feel great. Mentally, I'm always switched on."
One of the key factors in Cahill's decision will be finding a situation that allows him to keep playing at the international level. Australia will host the 2015 AFC Asian Cup for the first time next month. They have been drawn into Group A with South Korea, Oman, and Kuwait. Cahill, currently Australia's all-time scoring leader with 36 international goals, is expeced to be a major factor for the Socceroos' chances.
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And after that, he revealed, a return to England could be in the cards, although nothing is seemingly yet decided regarding his New York stint.
"To be totally honest, I could have gone back to the Premier League on loan after the World Cup and I decided to stay with Red Bulls for the remainder of the season and still [have] options to go back to the Premier League if it's the right one for me – and then deciding what's best for international football afterwards as well," he said.
"So when you put everything into one, the decision I make will be a methodical one, like I've always made it. It will take a month or so but, when it does, I think people will be quietly impressed with what I'm trying to do."
