Lucas Neill

Football player infobox
playername = Lucas Neill


fullname = Lucas Edward Neill
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1978|6|30
cityofbirth = Sydney
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.83
currentclub = West Ham United
clubnumber = 2
position = Centre Back, Right Back
youthclubs = Wakehurst Tigers
Manly United
AIS
youthyears =

1994–1995
years = 1995–2001
2001–2007
2007–
clubs = Millwall
Blackburn Rovers
West Ham United
caps(goals) = 152 (13)
188 0(5)
049 0(1)
nationalyears = 1997
1999–2000
1996–
nationalteam = Australia U20
Australia U23
Australia
nationalcaps(goals) = 008 0(3)
013 0(0)
044 0(0)
pcupdate = 20:42, 28 August 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 17:23, 14 September 2008 (UTC)

Lucas Edward Neill (born June 30, 1978 in Sydney, Australia) is an Australian football (soccer) player who is the captain of West Ham United, and most often plays at right back or centre-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.

Background

Lucas' father Edward is originally from Northern Ireland and played for Belfast sides Linfield Swifts, Cliftonville and Brantwood.Fact|date=April 2008 He left Northern Ireland for Australia in 1969.Fact|date=April 2008 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 in 1994-95. [cite news|url=http://www.ais.org.au/overview/games/team2000o.asp|title=List of Australian Olympic athletes|publisher=Australian Institute of Sport]

Club career

Millwall

Neill joined Millwall on a free transfer in November 1995, making his debut on 17 February against Luton Town in 1996. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/1523232.stm "Neill on the move"] , BBC Sport, 3 September 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2007.] In almost six years at The Den, he made 174 appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals. [http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=8954 Soccerbase: Lucas Neill] , Racing Post. Retrieved 28 June 2007.] In September 2001, Neill, by then the longest serving player at the club, submitted a transfer request and shortly after, signed for Blackburn Rovers for an initial fee of £600,000 plus up to £400,000 more depending on appearances. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/millwall/1526879.stm "Blackburn seal Neill deal"] , BBC Sport, 7 September 2001. Retrieved 28 June 2007.]

Blackburn Rovers

Neill played his first game for Blackburn in September 2001 against Sunderland and scored his first Blackburn goal later that month 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 was well-regarded by Blackburn Rovers supporters largely due to his never-say-die, determined attitude. He was one of Blackburn Rovers' most consistent performers and held the right back position for over five years without any competition.

Neill's combative and committed style of play in the FA Premier League attracted criticism in 2003/4 at a time when Blackburn had been criticised routinely for their aggressive play. He broke the leg of Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher when his trailing leg caught that of the Liverpool player in the fifth game of the 2003-04 season in a tackle at Ewood Park. Carragher, a popular home-grown Liverpool player, was sidelined for six months and the incident sparked a war of words between Gérard Houllier and Graeme Souness after Neill and his manager did not apologise for 48 hours.

Johan Neeskens, who became assistant to Barcelona manager Frank Rijkard for the 2006-07 season, said that Neill "could play for any of the best clubs". [cite news|last=Cockerill|first=Michael|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/aussie-update/neill-good-enough-for-barca-neeskens/2006/06/21/1150845244340.html|title=Neill good enough for Barca: Neeskens|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2006-06-22] On August 4, 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." [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/5246524.stm|title=Neill set for Blackburn departure|publisher=BBC Sport|date= 2006-04-08] On August 30, 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 [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/5298080.stm|title=Reds ready to bide time for Neill|publisher=BBC Sport|date= 2006-01-09] . In late November, rumours emerged that Chelsea [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6185006.stm|title=Sunday's football gossip|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2006-11-26] or even Barcelona [cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/6175067.stm|title=Blackburn may sell skipper Neill|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2006-12-13] were also interested in his signature. Neill, once a cult hero at Blackburn left under something of a storm and is now extremely unpopular amongst Blackburn fans. He was booed and barracked on his return to Ewood Park in March 2007. [ [http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/mostpopular.var.1891227.mostviewed.hughes_recalls_crazy_hammers_visit.php Hughes recalls 'crazy' Hammers visit] ]

West Ham United

However in January 2007 Neill turned his back on a un-confirmed bid from Liverpool in favour of West Ham United. The deal was confirmed on January 20 and was formally completed on January 23 following the successful transfer of Stephen Warnock from Liverpool to Blackburn. Neill was accused of his primary motivating factor being money, but he later refuted these claims, stating the move was for purely footballing reasons [citenews|last=Dunn|first=Alex|url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=443495&CPID=8&clid=21&lid=&title=Neill+rejects+cash+claims|title=Neill rejects cash claims|publisher=Sky Sports|date=2007-01-23|accessdate=2007-01-23] . Neill later alleged to the media that Liverpool hadn't made him feel truly wanted, and that he had not even spoken to manager Rafael Benitez. However, media reports suggested that Neill had signed for West Ham on a basic salary of £60,000 per week, double what Liverpool were said to have offered, and that Neill might have spoken to Benitez [cite news|last=Rogers|first=Paul|url=http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/news/drilldown/N154801070125-1534.htm|title=Rafa: Neill's comments were a surprise|publisher=Liverpool F.C.|date=2007-01-25|accessdate=2007-01-25] .

On February 10, 2007 Neill played his first Premiership match for Hammers against Watford, where he picked up a knee injury. [ cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3767.php | accessdate=February 28 | accessyear=2007] On March 4, 2007 he captained the team for the first time during a 3-4 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur and went on to play every remaining game of the season. His passionate, attacking style of play quickly won over those sceptical about his motives at the club, though he continued to be criticised outside of the club. Eventually he played a key part in West Ham's escape from relegation that had looked likely when he arrived.

It was announced by West Ham United on July 27 2007 that Neill had been awarded the permanent position of team captain following Nigel Reo-Coker's transfer to Aston Villa. [cite web | title = Lucas Neill named as new Team Captain | publisher = West ham United | date = 2007-07-27 | url = http://www.whufc.com/articles/article.php?page_id=9322 | accessdate = 2007-07-27 ] Neill made his first appearance as team captain in the 1-1 draw against Wigan Athletic on 25 August, 2007. [cite web | title = West Ham United v Wigan Athletic | publisher = West Ham United | date = 2007-08-25 | url = http://www.whufc.com/match/?page_id=7444&fixture=2846886&t=2| accessdate = 2007-08-27 ]

Neill scored his first goal for West Ham in the 3-2 away defeat to West Brom on 14 September 2008. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7601900.stm West Brom 3-2 West Ham] ]

International career

In October 1996, Neill became the second youngest player, after Harry Kewell, to debut for the Australian national team [cite news|url=http://www.ausfootballreview.com/afr/pmwiki.php/Commentary/Bring_On_The_Young_Blood|title=Bring On The Young Blood|publisher=www.ausfootballreview.com] when he played in a friendly game against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, aged 18 years and 7 months. [cite news|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1996A.html|title=Socceroo 1996 Matches|publisher=www.ozfootball.net] He also competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney with the Australian men's team, the Olyroos.

On November 16, 2005 at Sydney's ANZ 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. [cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1508551.htm|title=Jubilant Socceroos achieve their destiny|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=2005-11-17]

Neill was an integral member of the Australian squad for the 2006 World Cup, wearing the #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 October 6, 2006 was named as the 50th player to captain Australia. On October 7, 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. [cite news|last=Cockerill|first=Michael|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/arnolds-roll-of-honour/2006/11/14/1163266549488.html|title=Arnold's roll of honour|publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2006-11-15] On June 2, 2007, Neill captained the Socceroos again in a friendly match against Uruguay at Sydney's Telstra Stadium in which Australia lost 2-1.

On 13th July, 2007, in the dying seconds of the Socceroo's 3-1 loss to Iraq, Neill verbally abused the referee. He received his second yellow card and was sent off, capping a disappointing performance by the Australian side. In the Quarter Finals of the Asian Cup, Neill missed a crucial penalty in a shootout against Japan which resulted in Australia's elimination from the Cup. [cite news|url=http://www.theworldgame.com.au/asiancup/index.php?pid=st&cid=91749|title=Iraq down sorry Socceroos|publisher=Special Broadcasting Service|date=2007-07-13]

Career Statistics

"(correct as of 21 January, 2008)"

Personal life

On the 2nd June 2008, his long term girlfriend, Lindsay Morris, gave birth to twins; a boy and a girl.

References

External links

*FIFA player|178312
* [http://www.whufc.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,12562~9121,00.html West Ham profile]
* [http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/Socceroos/default.aspx?s=soc_player_profile&pid=260&tid=23 FFA - Socceroo profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/N/NA.html Oz Football profile]
*soccerbase|id=8954|name=Lucas Neill