Cahill pays glowing tributes to Postecoglou

Bengaluru, November 23: Australia's leading international scorer Tim Cahill paid glowing tributes to outgoing coach Ange Postecoglou.

The 52-year-old stepped aside from his job on Wednesday (November 22), just a week after taking Australia to the 2018 World Cup to be held in Russia.

During Postecoglou's four-year tenure, the Socceroos reached the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and won the AFC Asian Cup held at home.

After the 2014 Brazil World Cup, Australia rebuilt the team, with Postecoglou increasingly leaning on a youthful squad.

But Cahill, the survived cull of 'golden generation' and vindicated Postecoglou's faith in him by forming the link between the old and new order.

"The last four years have been amazing and he has helped create memories that will last forever for our country," said Cahill in an Instagram post.

Want to say a massive thank you to Ange Postecoglou. The last four years have been amazing and he has helped create memories that will last forever for our country. From the World Cup in Brazil, winning the Asian Cup and now to the biggest prize of qualifying for a fourth consecutive World Cup. His leadership and beliefs are infectious and I’m proud that I had the chance to share his journey with him and witness his love for our country. The most important part was the belief he instilled in us to play a style of football that could test any team we came up against. This for me sets Ange apart as someone that stayed strong to his values of changing the game in Australia. His saying that will stay with me forever is NEVER TAKE A BACKWARDS STEP. Want to wish Ange and his family all the very best in the future.

A post shared by Tim Cahill (@tim_cahill) on Nov 21, 2017 at 6:59pm PST

The 37-year-old, who has scored 50 international goals and was a key part of Postecoglou's successful Asian Cup and World Cup qualifying campaigns dwelled further.

"His leadership and beliefs are infectious and I'm proud that I had the chance to share his journey with him and witness his love for our country.

Want to say a massive thank you to Ange Postecoglou. The last four years have been amazing and… https://t.co/T8J3o9OHT4
— TIM CAHILL (@Tim_Cahill) November 22, 2017

"The most important part was the belief he instilled in us to play a style of football that could test any team we came up against. This for me sets Ange apart as someone that stayed strong to his values of changing the game in Australia."

Football Australia will soon begin the search for Postecoglou's successor, with the likes of Graham Arnold, Tony Popovic, Guus Hiddink, Carlo Ancelotti and Louis van Gaal being rumoured to be the front-runners.