Australia midfielder Tim Cahill has been compared to legendary England World Cup winner Alan Ball by Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.
Kenwright believes Cahill has been a major influence on Everton’s success this season, which includes reaching Saturday’s FA Cup final against Chelsea and securing a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League.
Such is his admiration for Cahill that Kenwright claimed the Socceroos star’s spirit and skill reminds more and more of Ball, who died aged 61 in 2007.
Ball was the youngest member of the England team who won the country’s only World Cup in 1966 and is regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his generation.
He is also an Everton idol after five successful seasons at Goodison Park in the aftermath of that World Cup triumph.
Now Cahill, who will be Everton’s key figure at Wembley this weekend, has the chance to go one better than Ball, who was on the losing side when the Toffees faced West Bromwich Albion in the 1968 Cup Final.
“The first game David and me went to see to look at a player, was Millwall’s play-off game with Birmingham. We actually went to watch a centre-back,” Kenwright said.
“But after half an hour, David looked at me and said had I noticed that black-haired lad going from box to box like no one we had ever seen before.
“We then watched Tim Cahill for the next hour. He was just mesmeric.
“I recall him coming into my office once to just tell me how much he wanted to play for Everton.
“That was a great thrill for me. He is the prince of footballers, he is the new Alan Ball.
“He has the true spirit of Everton, the one who epitomises the never-say-die attitude of the whole squad.”
Cahill will find himself up against a side guided by Blues boss Guus Hiddink, who he played under when the Dutchman was manager of Australia.
“The calibre and stature of the man speaks for itself, I’m very thankful for what he did for us in the World Cup,” Cahill said.
“He is honest and stamps his authority. None of his players get a chance to overpower him and you never know if you are going to be in the team or not.”
