The love/hate relationship between the Poms and the Aussies is as old as time itself, but it is on the sporting battlefield where we see the very best of this rivalry. On the day that Tim Cahill celebrates his 42nd birthday and at the start of a week where England travel Down Under on their quest to win back the Ashes, we have taken a look back at those Australian superstars who left a lasting impact on the Premier League. There’s only one place to start.
Tim Cahill
Australia’s top ever goalscorer, with 50 goals in 108 appearances had a seismic impact on English football. After six years at Millwall, during which he led them to promotion and an FA Cup final, he was picked up by David Moyes at Everton and almost instantly he became a hit with the Goodison Park faithful.
In his first season he won Player of the Season and Players’ Player of the Season, while he was even one of 50 nominees for Ballon d’Or in 2006, such was his impact for the Toffees. For someone who is just 5ft 10in, he had an outrageous jumping reach and his aerial ability helped him to 56 goals and 22 assists in 226 appearances. Not many other Aussies can hold a candle to Cahill in the Premier League.
Mark Viduka
The former Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United striker who simply knew where the net was. With his great strength, he was an utter nightmare for defenders to deal with and when David O’Leary bought him from Celtic for £6m, he was expected to make an impression and he duly delivered, with 17, 11, 20 and 11 Premier League goals in his four seasons at Elland Road.
His debut year of goalscoring success aligned with Leeds’ most successful season in the Premier League era, as they challenged for the European places and even reached the semi-final of the Champions League in 2001. Although he is mainly remembered for what he achieved at Leeds before their relegation, he also performed well at Middlesbrough, before injury ended his career at Newcastle, where he finished with 92 Premier League goals to his name.
Harry Kewell
Before Viduka at Leeds came Harry Kewell. The clever winger was a key part of the Leeds sides that reached the UEFA Cup semi-final and the Champions League semi-final while playing alongside the likes of Michael Bridges and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink.
Kewell was loved by the Leeds faithful during his time there and it was his goals that kept them up in 2003, before he left for Liverpool. Despite Viduka’s efforts, the club would be relegated as Kewell went on to win the Champions League with the Reds in 2005.
Mark Schwarzer
Although he may have become a second choice shot-stopper in his latter years, winning titles at both Chelsea and Leicester City, Schwarzer was an elite level number one for well over a decade, at both Middlesbrough and Fulham. In total he made a whopping 514 appearances, kept 151 clean sheets and even made the UEFA Cup final with both Boro and Fulham, albeit coming out on the losing side on both occasions.
Lucas Neill
Mainly known for his six year spell at Blackburn Rovers, the tough tackling defender also lined up with countryman Cahill at Millwall, before moving on to West Ham and Everton. At Ewood Park, he played with another famous Aussie, Brett Emerton, and although he became a cult hero, he left under a cloud of animosity after he refused to sign a new deal with the club.
He rejected a move to Liverpool to join West Ham, where the captain of Australia then became the captain of the Hammers, before a short spell at Everton brought an end to his Premier League career.
