Lucas Neill

Lucas Neill

Personal information
Full name	Lucas Edward Neill
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	Blackburn Rovers
Number	2
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 27 July 06

Lucas Neill (born March 9, 1978 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently captains Blackburn Rovers, and most often plays at right-back. He is a regular member of the Australian national team and was a member of the Australian squad which competed in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Early life

Lucas' father Eddie is originally from Northern Ireland and played for Belfast sides Linfield Swifts, Cliftonville and Brantwood. He left Northern Ireland for Australia in 1969. Neill grew up in the Northern Beaches of Sydney and was a student at Wakehurst Primary School, in Belrose, and St. Augustine's College, in Brookvale, before attending the Australian Institute of Sport on a football scholarship (1994-1995). [1]

Career in England

Neill joined Blackburn from Millwall in September 2001, having initially played at the Australian Institute of Sport. Neill played 145 games for Millwall in total and played his first game for Blackburn on September 8 against Sunderland, and scored his first Blackburn goal on September 19 against Bolton Wanderers. Neill is a combative, versatile player. He has played in all defensive positions during his professional career and is a key member for both his club and national team.

Neill is well-regarded by Blackburn Rovers supporters largely due to his never-say-die, determined attitude. He is one of Blackburn Rovers' most consistent performers and has held the right back position for over 5 years without any competition.

Neill's combatative style of play in the Premiership has attracted controversy over the years. He broke the leg of Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher in the fifth game of the 2003-04 season with a tackle at Ewood Park. Carragher was sidelined for 6 months and the incident sparked a war of words between Gérard Houllier and Graeme Souness after Neill and his manager didn't apologise for 48 hours.

Johan Neeskens, who became assistant to Barcelona manager Frank Rijkaard for the 2006-07 season, said that Neill "could play for any of the best clubs".[2] On the 4th August 2006, he announced he would not sign a new four-year contract for Blackburn Rovers. The player's agent, Peter Harrison, said "He has enjoyed his time there (Blackburn), he loves the club and the fans, he just feels it is time for a change." [3] On the 30th of August, 2006 Liverpool reportedly made a £2 million bid for Neill; however, this bid was rejected by Blackburn. The club wanted Stephen Warnock in part exchange for Neill; however Liverpool were not prepared to let the left-back go.[4] Neill currently has 12 months left on his Blackburn contract. It is possible that Rafa Benitez will renew his interest in Neill in the January transfer window. [5]

International Career for Australia

Neill competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney with the Australian men's team, the Olyroos.

On 16 November, 2005 at Sydney's Telstra Stadium, Neill helped Australia qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup playing the entire game and scoring the Socceroos' second penalty in a shoot-out against Uruguay, after aggregate scores were tied at 1-1 following extra-time. He was named Man of the Match for this game. [6]

Neill was an integral member of the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup, wearing the no. 2 jersey. He started all four games in the position of centre-back. During Australia's Round of 16 game against Italy, Neill had a controversial injury-time penalty awarded against him, allowing Francesco Totti to score and give the Italians a 1-0 victory, knocking Australia out of the Cup.

Following the World Cup, Neill expressed his desire to captain his national side and on 6 October, 2006 was named as the 50th player to captain Australia. On the 7th of October, 2006 he made his debut as the Socceroo's captain in a 1-1 friendly against Paraguay, in Brisbane. Four days later, in Sydney, he captained Australia again in an Asian Cup qualifying game against Bahrain, which Australia won 2-0.

Blackburn career

(correct as of 29th September, 2006)

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Total
		Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Blackburn Rovers	2001-02	23	1	0	4	0	0	0	27	1
	2002-03	34	0	3	7	0	4	0	45	0
	2003-04	32	2	0	2	0	1	0	35	2
	2004-05	36	1	2	8	0	0	0	44	1
	2005-06	35	1	2	7	2	0	0	42	3
	2006-07	5	0	0	0	0	2	0	7	0
Career totals									199	7

External links

• Lucas Neill at Soccerbase