View source for Lucas Neill

{{Short description|Australian soccer player (born 1978)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Lucas Neill
| image          = Lucas Neill.jpg
| caption        = Neill with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in 2007
| full_name       = Lucas Edward Neill<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30&kisiID=1304583 |title=Lucas Edward Neill |publisher=Turkish Football Federation |access-date=3 October 2019 |language=tr}}</ref>
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1978|3|9|df=y}}
| birth_place    = [[Sydney]], Australia
| height         = 1.85 m
| position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub    = 
| youthyears1    = 1991–1993 |youthclubs1 = [[Manly United FC|Manly United]]
| youthyears2    = 1994–1995 |youthclubs2 = [[Australian Institute of Sport|AIS]]
| years1         = 1995–2001 |clubs1 = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] |caps1 = 152 |goals1 = 13
| years2         = 2001–2007 |clubs2 = [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] |caps2 = 188 |goals2 = 5
| years3         = 2007–2009 |clubs3 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] |caps3 = 79 |goals3 = 1
| years4         = 2009–2010 |clubs4 = [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] |caps4 = 12 |goals4 = 0
| years5         = 2010–2011 |clubs5 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]] |caps5 = 39 |goals5 = 1
| years6         = 2011–2012 |clubs6 = [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]] |caps6 = 19 |goals6 = 3
| years7         = 2012–2013 |clubs7 = [[Al Wasl FC|Al Wasl]] |caps7 = 4 |goals7 = 0
| years8         = 2013      |clubs8 = [[Sydney FC]] |caps8 = 3 |goals8 = 0
| years9         = 2013      |clubs9 = [[Omiya Ardija]] |caps9 = 9 |goals9 = 0
| years10        = 2014      |clubs10 = [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] |caps10 = 1 |goals10 = 0
| years11        = 2014      |clubs11 = → [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] (loan) |caps11 = 4 |goals11 = 0
| totalcaps = 510 | totalgoals = 23
| nationalyears1 = 1996–1997 |nationalteam1 = [[Australia men's national under-20 soccer team|Australia U20]] |nationalcaps1 = 8  |nationalgoals1 = 3
| nationalyears2 = 1999–2000 |nationalteam2 = [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|Australia U23]] |nationalcaps2 = 13 |nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1996–2013 |nationalteam3 = [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]              |nationalcaps3 = 96 |nationalgoals3 = 1
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[association football|football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|AUS}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011 Qatar]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[OFC Nations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004 Australia]]|}}
{{Medal|Competition|[[OFC U-20 Championship]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 OFC U-20 Championship|Tahiti 1997]]|}}
}}
'''Lucas Edward Neill''' (born 9 March 1978) is an Australian former [[Association football|soccer player]]. Neill played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]], often playing as a [[Defender (association football)#Centre-back|centre back]] as well as a [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|full-back]]. Neill spent almost 15 years of his career playing in England. He represented Australia at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the [[2007 AFC Asian Cup]], the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] in South Africa, and also the [[2011 AFC Asian Cup]] in Qatar. On 6 October 2006 he was named the 50th captain of the [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australian national team]], and by the time of his retirement, had amassed a record 61 caps as captain. He played for [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]], [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]], [[Al Wasl FC|Al Wasl]], [[Sydney FC]], [[Omiya Ardija]], [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] and [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]].

==Early life==
Neill's father moved to Australia from [[Northern Ireland]], where he had played for local football clubs [[Brantwood F.C.]], [[Linfield F.C.]], and [[Cliftonville F.C.]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/lucas-neill-watford_2228487_9121 |title=Lucas Neill &#124; Player Profiles &#124; First Team &#124; Team &#124; West Ham United |access-date=2014-07-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150503/http://www.whufc.com/articles/lucas-neill-watford_2228487_9121 |archive-date=14 July 2014}}</ref> Neill grew up in [[Manly, New South Wales|Manly]], Sydney and was a student at [[Wakehurst Public School]] in [[Belrose, New South Wales|Belrose]] and [[St Augustine's College (New South Wales)|St Augustine's College]] in [[Brookvale, New South Wales|Brookvale]], before attending the [[Australian Institute of Sport Football Program|Australian Institute of Sport]] on a football scholarship in 1994–95.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ais.org.au/overview/games/team2000o.asp|title=List of Australian Olympic athletes|publisher=[[Australian Institute of Sport]]}}</ref>

==Club career==

===Millwall===
Neill joined [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] on a free transfer in November 1995, making his debut on 17 February against [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] in 1996.<ref name=bbc1>[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.</ref> In almost six years at [[The Den]], he made 174 appearances in all competitions, scoring 13 goals.<ref name=sbase>[https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=8954 Soccerbase: Lucas Neill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618164254/http://www.soccerbase.com/players_details.sd?playerid=8954 |date=18 June 2010 }}, Racing Post. Retrieved 28 June 2007.</ref> In September 2001, Neill, by then the longest serving player at the club, submitted a transfer request<ref name=bbc1 /> and shortly after, signed for [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] for an initial fee of £600,000 plus up to £400,000 more depending on appearances.<ref name=bbc2>[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.</ref>

===Blackburn Rovers===
Neill played his first game for Blackburn in September 2001 against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] and scored his first Blackburn goal later that month against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]. Neill was well regarded by [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] supporters and held the [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|right back]] position for over five years for the Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn won the [[2001–02 Football League Cup]] but Neill was cup-tied.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sunday clockwatch |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/1838700.stm|access-date=21 December 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=24 February 2002}}</ref>

Neill's combative and committed style of play in the [[Premier League]] attracted criticism in 2003–04 at a time when Blackburn had been criticised routinely for their aggressive play.{{citation needed|date=September 2020}} He broke the leg of [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] defender [[Jamie Carragher]] when his trailing leg caught that of the Liverpool player in the fifth game of the [[2003–04 in English football|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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

[[Johan Neeskens]], who became assistant to [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] manager [[Frank Rijkaard]] for the [[La Liga 2006–07|2006–07 season]], said that Neill "could play for any of the best clubs".<ref>{{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|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=22 June 2006}}</ref> On 4 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 [at Blackburn], he loves the club and the fans, he just feels it is time for a change."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/teams/b/blackburn_rovers/5246524.stm|title=Neill set for Blackburn departure|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date= 8 April 2006}}</ref> On 30 August, [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] reportedly made a [[pound sterling|£]]2 million bid for Neill; however, this bid was rejected by Blackburn. The club wanted [[Stephen Warnock]] in part exchange for Neill, but Liverpool were not prepared to let the [[Defender (association football)#Full-back|left back]] go.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/5298080.stm|title=Reds ready to bide time for Neill|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date= 9 January 2006}}</ref> In late November, rumours emerged that [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] were also interested in his signature.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6185006.stm|title=Sunday's football gossip|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=26 November 2006}}</ref> Neill, once a cult hero at Blackburn, left under something of a storm and became very unpopular amongst Blackburn fans. He was booed and barracked on his return to Ewood Park in March 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/1891227.Hughes_recalls__crazy__Hammers_visit/|title=Hughes recalls 'crazy' Hammers visit|website=Lancashire Telegraph|date=8 December 2007 }}</ref>

===West Ham United===
[[File:Lucas Neil vs Stoke City.jpg|thumb|Neill playing for West Ham.]]
In January 2007 Neill turned his back on an un-confirmed bid from [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] in favour of [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], following the successful transfer of Stephen Warnock from Liverpool to Blackburn.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/6282817.stm|title=West Ham confirm capture of Neill |date=22 January 2007|work=BBC Sport|access-date=5 August 2009}}</ref> Neill was accused of his primary motivating factor being money, but he later refuted these claims, stating the move was for purely footballing reasons.<ref>{{cite news|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=23 January 2007|access-date=23 January 2007}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Neill later alleged to the media that Liverpool had not made him feel truly wanted, and that he had not even spoken to manager [[Rafael Benítez]]. Neill made his league debut for the Hammers in February 2007 against [[Watford F.C.|Watford]], where he picked up a knee injury.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tactical Formation|work=Football-Lineups.com
|url=http://www.football-lineups.com/wiki/_match3767.php | access-date=28 February 2007 }}</ref> He captained the team for the first time during a 3–4 defeat against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] the following month and went on to play every remaining game of the season. He became the permanent team captain following [[Nigel Reo-Coker]]'s transfer to [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Lucas Neill named as new Team Captain | publisher = West ham United | date = 27 July 2007 | url = http://www.whufc.com/articles/article.php?page_id=9322 | access-date = 27 July 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013848/http://www.whufc.com/articles/article.php?page_id=9322 | archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> Neill made his first appearance as team captain in the 1–1 draw against [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]] on 25 August 2007.<ref>{{cite web | title = West Ham United v Wigan Athletic | publisher = West Ham United | date = 25 August 2007 | url = http://www.whufc.com/match/?page_id=7444&fixture=2846886&t=2 | access-date = 27 August 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927013959/http://www.whufc.com/match/?page_id=7444&fixture=2846886&t=2 | archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref> Neill scored his only goal for West Ham in a 3–2 away defeat to [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Brom]] in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/7601900.stm|title=West Brom 3-2 West Ham|date=13 September 2008|work=BBC Sport}}</ref> At the end of the 2008–09 season Neill rejected a one-year contract extension with West Ham, becoming a free agent.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/8081520.stm|title=Neill turns down new Hammers deal |date=3 June 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=3 June 2009}}</ref>

===Everton===
[[File:Lucas Neill Everton cropped.jpg|thumb|200px|Neill and national teammate Tim Cahill playing for Everton in 2009]]
On 17 September 2009, Neill joined close friend<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/mersey-flight-for-aussie-skipper-as-neill-and-cahill-unite/story-e6frfg8x-1225776886376 Mersey flight for Aussie skipper as Neill and Cahill unite] ''Herald Sun''</ref> [[Tim Cahill]] at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] on a free transfer, signing a one-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/neill-signs-in.html|title=Neill signs for Everton: report|date=17 September 2009|work=Everton FC|access-date=17 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003024221/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/neill-signs-in.html|archive-date=3 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was unveiled to the fans at half time during Everton's 4–0 Europa League win at [[Goodison Park]] against [[AEK Athens F.C.|AEK Athens]].

Neill played his first game for Everton on 23 September 2009 in the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]], coming on as a second half substitution for [[Leighton Baines]], in their 4–0 victory over [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/8257287.stm Hull 0 – 4 Everton] BBC</ref> Neill's first start for Everton in the [[Premier League]] was on 25 October 2009 where he played a full match against [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] setting up two goals.

===Galatasaray===
On 13 January 2010, Neill agreed to join [[Turkey|Turkish]] side [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/futbol/futbol_as/haber/5881.php|title=GALATASARAY.ORG|website=galatasaray.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/everton/6979751/Everton-set-to-sell-Lucas-Neill-to-Galatasaray-after-bid-accepted.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117043102/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/everton/6979751/Everton-set-to-sell-Lucas-Neill-to-Galatasaray-after-bid-accepted.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 January 2010|title=Everton set to off-load Lucas Neill to Galatasaray after bid accepted|first=Jason|last=Burt|date=4 August 2018|website=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref> Neill signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galatasaray.org/futbol/futbol_as/haber/5936.php|title=GALATASARAY.ORG|website=galatasaray.org}}</ref> linking up with [[Australia men's national soccer team|Socceroo]] teammate [[Harry Kewell]]. Neill made his Turkish Super Lig debut for Galatasaray on 24 January 2010 in a 1–0 home win at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium against Gaziantepspor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=275140&cc=5739|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020163646/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/match?id=275140&cc=5739|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 October 2012|title=Galatasaray 1 – 0 Gaziantepspor|date=24 January 2010|publisher=ESPN|access-date=16 February 2010}}</ref> Neill along with Kewell and several others were released at the end of the 2010–11 season.

===Al Jazira===
On 19 August 2011 it was announced he had signed a one-year contract with UAE Pro League Club [[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/al-jazira-to-unveil-manager-franky-vercauteren-on-sunday-and-lucas-neill|title=Al Jazira to unveil manager Franky Vercauteren on Sunday and Lucas Neill|date=19 August 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1069338/Neill-seals-UAE-switch:-report|title=Neill seals UAE switch: report|access-date=19 August 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007142310/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1069338/Neill-seals-UAE-switch:-report|archive-date=7 October 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> On 2 June 2012 it was announced he had been released by the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.albawaba.com/sport/uae-al-jazira-release-lucas-neill-427771|title=Al Jazira release Lucas Neill|date=1 June 2012}}</ref>

===Al Wasl===
He signed in August 2012 one-year contract with [[Al Wasl FC|Al Wasl]].<ref>[http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1117873/neill-signs-for-al-wasl Neills signs for Al Wasl] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929065800/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1117873/Neill-signs-for-Al-Wasl |date=29 September 2012 }} The World Game on SBS</ref> In January 2013, Neill was released from Al Wasl after the club signed Ahmad Ibrahim Khalaf, thus replacing Neill as an import player.<ref>[http://www.goal.com/en-au/news/4024/aussies-abroad/2013/01/31/3714059/neill-future-in-doubt-after-al-wasl-release Neill's Al Wasl future in doubt as UAE club make new signings] Goal.com</ref>

===Sydney FC===
In February 2013 Neill signed with [[Sydney FC]].<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/football/socceroos-captain-lucas-neill-joins-sydney-fc/story-e6frfg8x-1226579345452 Socceroos captain Lucas Neill joins Sydney FC] ''Herald Sun''</ref> He made his A-League debut for Sydney FC against Melbourne Heart on 24 February 2013 at AAMI Park in Melbourne.<ref>[http://espnfc.com/en/report/356472/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=3436 Melbourne Heart v Sydney FC live football scores | Soccer scores and live video | ESPNFC.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302004351/http://espnfc.com/en/report/356472/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=3436 |date=2 March 2014 }}</ref> Neill played just four games of his ten-game guest stint at Sydney FC.

===Omiya Ardija===
On 18 August 2013, Neill signed with Japanese team [[Omiya Ardija]].
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2153807.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130821203512/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=2153807.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=21 August 2013|title=FIFA - FIFA|last=FIFA.com|publisher=FIFA}}</ref>
He signed a four-month deal for the remainder of the Japanese season. In November 2013, at the end of the Japanese football season, Neill was not offered a contract extension, and had to start looking for another club. He offered his services to all the [[A-League Men|A-League]] clubs but did not receive any offers.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1177218/Little-A-League-interest-for-clubless-Neill|title=Little A-League interest for clubless Neill : The World Game on SBS|access-date=27 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227211419/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1177218/Little-A-League-interest-for-clubless-Neill|archive-date=27 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Watford===
On 24 February 2014 Neill signed for [[EFL Championship|Championship]] team, [[Watford F.C.|Watford]] for the remainder of the [[2013–14 Watford F.C. season|2013-14 season]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/140224-lucas-neill-signs-1380824.aspx | title=Official: Lucas Neill signs | publisher=Watford F.C. | access-date=25 February 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301200057/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/140224-lucas-neill-signs-1380824.aspx | archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> but made only one appearance, as an 84th-minute substitute in a 3–0 home win against [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] on 15 March before being released in June 2014 effectively ending his career as a player.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26492909|title=Watford 3-0 Barnsley|date=15 March 2014|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>

====Doncaster Rovers (loan)====
Not needed for cover as Watford's injury worries eased, Neill moved to [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] on 26 March 2014 on a loan until 22 April 2014,<ref>{{cite web|title=Neill Joins Rovers|url=http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/neill-joins-rovers-1447237.aspx|publisher=DRFC Official site|access-date=26 March 2014}}</ref> subsequently extended for the remainder of the [[2013–14 Football League Championship|2013–14]] season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Neill loan extended |url=http://www.doncasterroversfc.co.uk/news/article/neill-loan-extended-1506482.aspx |work=Doncaster Rovers FC |date=23 April 2014}}</ref> Neill made four appearances for the club. On 8 September 2015, it was reported that Neill was close to signing with [[National Premier Leagues NSW]] club [[Hakoah Sydney City East FC]], with Neill identified as a potential leader at the club whose roster is replete with talented youngsters.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bossi|first1=Dominic|title=Former Socceroos captain Lucas Neill close to returning to Australia with Hakoah|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/former-socceroos-captain-lucas-neill-close-to-returning-to-australia-with-hakoah-20150908-gjhpkh.html|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=8 September 2015 |access-date=8 September 2015}}</ref>

==International career==
In October 1996, Neill became the third-youngest player, after [[Duncan Cummings]] and [[Harry Kewell]], to debut for the Australian national team<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ausfootballreview.com/afr/pmwiki.php/Commentary/Bring_On_The_Young_Blood |title=Bring on the Young Blood |publisher=ausfootballreview.com |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070205021556/http://www.ausfootballreview.com/afr/pmwiki.php/Commentary/Bring_On_The_Young_Blood |archive-date=5 February 2007 }}</ref> when he played in a friendly game against [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] in [[Riyadh]], aged 18 years and 7 months.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Socceroo/1996A.html|title=Socceroo 1996 Matches|publisher=ozfootball.net}}</ref> He also competed at the [[2000 Summer Olympics]] in Sydney with the Australian men's team, [[Australia men's national under-23 soccer team|the Olyroos]].

On 16 November 2005 at Sydney's ANZ Stadium, Neill helped Australia [[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (play-off CONMEBOL-OFC)|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.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1508551.htm|title=Jubilant Socceroos achieve their destiny|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=17 November 2005|access-date=24 October 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070313164520/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200511/s1508551.htm|archive-date=13 March 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Neill started all four of Australia's games at the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. In the closing minutes of Australia's Round of 16 game against [[Italy national football team|Italy]], he was involved in a controversial incident, as referee [[Luis Medina Cantalejo]] adjudged Neill to have fouled Italian full back [[Fabio Grosso]] in the penalty area. [[Francesco Totti]] converted the ensuing [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty kick]] to score and give the Italians a 1–0 victory, knocking Australia out of the cup.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/worldcup/2006-06-26-italy-australia_x.htm|title=Late Totti penalty kick sends Italy past Australia|date=27 June 2006|newspaper=[[USA Today]] | first=Andy | last=Gardiner | access-date=11 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/27/sports/soccer/27italy.html|title=A Tumble, a Whistle and a Controversial Victory for Italy|newspaper=The New York Times|author1=Mark Landler|date=27 June 2006|access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/football/11/19/football.goals.injustices/|title=Football's worst injustices|publisher=CNN|author1=Thomas Cooper|date=19 November 2009|access-date=9 July 2016}}</ref>

Following the World Cup, on 6 October 2006 was named as the 50th player to captain Australia. On 7 October 2006 he made his debut as the Socceroos' captain in a 1–1 friendly against [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]], in [[Brisbane]]. Four days later, in Sydney, he captained Australia again in an [[2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification|Asian Cup qualifying game]] against [[Bahrain national football team|Bahrain]], which Australia won 2–0.<ref>{{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|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=15 November 2006}}</ref> On 2 June 2007, Neill captained the Socceroos again in a friendly match against Uruguay at Sydney's Telstra Stadium in which Australia lost 2–1.

On 13 July 2007, in the dying seconds of the Socceroo's 3–1 loss to [[Iraq national football team|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 national football team|Japan]] which resulted in Australia's elimination from the cup.<ref>{{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=13 July 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009172323/http://www.theworldgame.com.au/asiancup/index.php?pid=st&cid=91749|archive-date=9 October 2007}}</ref> Neill played his 50th game for Australia in a World Cup Qualifier against Japan, a game that Australia won 2–1 with [[Tim Cahill]] scoring both goals.
In June 2013 Neill scored his first international goal with a header in a [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|World Cup]] qualifying match against [[Jordan national football team|Jordan]] which finished 4–0. It was his 91st appearance for Australia<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/jun/11/australia-jordan-world-cup-qualifer-20141 | title=Australia 4-0 Jordan: as it happened | work=The Guardian| date=2013-06-11 | access-date=2013-06-13 | author=Murray, Scott}}</ref> and 16 years and 245 days since his debut.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]]|date=Summer 2013|page=9|title=Heroes & Villains}}</ref>

In the final part of the [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (AFC)|2014 World Cup qualifying]], Neill came under much criticism in the media and from fans. It was during this period that Neill spent a considerable period unable to find a new club contract after not managing to secure an extension to his contract with [[Sydney FC]]. The nub of the criticism was that Neill continued to be selected as Socceroos captain, in spite of not having regular game time at a club, and having been dropped by two Middle Eastern clubs, [[Al Jazira Club]] and [[Al Wasl FC]], and having made minimal impact in his short time in Australia's domestic [[A-League Men|A-League]]. With these criticisms hanging over his head, the issue of Neill's age-related lack of pace was highlighted when the Socceroos were defeated 6–0 in a friendly against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] on 7 September 2013, and again defeated 6–0 against [[France national football team|France]] on 11 October 2013. [[Fox Sports (Australia)|Fox Sports Australia]] prepared a video analysis of the 12 goals scored against the Socceroos by France and Brazil in the two friendlies, identifying Neill's role in the lack of defence for the bulk of those goals.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Glover |first1=Ben |title=Video: the role of Lucas Neill in the 12 goals conceded by the Socceroos against Brazil and France |url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/football/socceroos/video-the-role-of-lucas-neill-in-the-12-goals-conceded-by-the-socceroos-against-brazil-and-france/news-story/c23868e5973d29e3785f42053e8c3263?sv=eff9904362f5e9955ab99227d7588568 |website=Fox Sports Australia |date=15 October 2013 |publisher=NewsCorp |access-date=24 April 2019}}</ref>

Sections of the press and social media called for Neill to retire with commentator [[Robbie Slater]] stating Neill should be stood down as Socceroos captain.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/lucas-neill-should-be-stood-down-as-socceroos-captain-robbie-slater-20131015-2vk7f.html | title=Lucas Neill should be stood down as Socceroos captain | newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | date=2013-10-15 | access-date=2013-10-15}}</ref> Another media commentator [[Mark Bosnich]] described Neill as "part of the problem" for the successive 6–0 losses, given Neill's lack of pace in defence. Neill responded to the criticism, refusing to contemplate retirement, instead appearing to lay the blame at the feet of the younger players of the squad.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1170287/Fired-up-Neill-wants-kids-to-show-hunger | title=Fired-up Neill wants kids to show hunger | publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ | date=2013-10-15 | access-date=2013-10-15 | author=Lewis, Dave | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017044224/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1170287/Fired-up-Neill-wants-kids-to-show-hunger | archive-date=17 October 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1170363/Legends-divided-on-Neill-outburst | title=Legends divided on Neill outburst | publisher=theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ | date=2013-10-15 | access-date=2013-10-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018053702/http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1170363/Legends-divided-on-Neill-outburst | archive-date=18 October 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref> In that media interview, Neill was quoted as saying: "I add value to the team and I bring a lot of good attributes but I am the victim ...".

On 6 May 2014, it was revealed that Socceroos team boss [[Ange Postecoglou]] had advised Neill that he would not be part of Australia's squad at the 2014 World Cup.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2014/may/06/lucas-neill-dropped-socceroos-world-cup | title=Lucas Neill will not make Socceroos squad for World Cup | newspaper=The Guardian | date=6 May 2014 | access-date=6 May 2014}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Neill's son, Marcus, currently plays at the [[Sunderland A.F.C. Reserves and Academy|Sunderland Academy]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Liverpool win race to sign Lucas Neill's son |url=https://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/liverpool-win-race-to-sign-lucas-neill-s-son |website=The World Game |date=31 December 2018 |publisher=Special Broadcasting Service |access-date=6 January 2019}}</ref> having previously played at the [[Liverpool F.C. Reserves and Academy|Liverpool Academy]] and [[Blackburn Rovers F.C. Reserves and Academy|Blackburn Rovers Academy]].<ref>{{cite web|title=No Dunn deal yet but Brig hopeful|url=http://www.lep.co.uk/sport/non-league/no-dunn-deal-yet-but-brig-hopeful-1-7703553|website=Lancashire Evening Post|publisher=Johnston Publishing Ltd.|access-date=10 February 2016}}</ref> On 2 May 2016, Neill was declared [[Bankruptcy|bankrupt]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Smithies|first1=Tom|title=Former Socceroos captain Lucas Neill declared bankrupt in the UK|url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/football/former-socceroos-captain-lucas-neill-declared-bankrupt-in-the-uk/news-story/89fdb07f043b7a08052d971641893241#load-story-comments|website=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ex-Socceroos captain Neill bankrupt|url=http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/article/2016/05/02/ex-socceroos-captain-neill-bankrupt|website=The World Game|date=2 May 2016 |publisher=SBS|access-date=2 May 2016}}</ref> 

On 20 November 2023, at [[Preston Crown Court]], Neill was found not guilty of purposefully hiding money from his bankruptcy proceedings. After the verdict, he spoke to ''[[The Times]]'' and said he was living in a rented house and his children had to move schools as he could no longer afford the school fees – Neill also said how at the height of his financial struggles, the electricity was cut off in his house. He told the newspaper that he was now coaching football at a local women's team and was also working as a project manager for a local digital firm.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/football-gave-me-a-ferrari-now-i-cant-afford-a-phone-7bn2vw63q |title=Football gave me a Ferrari – now I can't afford a phone |work=The Times |date=25 November 2023 |access-date=26 November 2023}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tff.org/Default.aspx?pageId=30&kisiId=1304583|title=LUCAS EDWARD NEILL| date = 23 October 2010|work=Turkish Football Federation| access-date = 23 October 2010}}</ref><ref>{{NFT player|445|name=Neill, Lucas|accessdate=8 April 2014}}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="2"|League
!colspan="2"|Cups{{efn|Includes [[FA Cup]], [[Football League Cup|League Cup]], [[FA Community Shield]], [[Football League Trophy|League Trophy]] and [[Turkish Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
!Apps
!Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|[[The Football League 1995–96|1995–96]]
|13||0||0||0||0||0||13||0
|-
|[[The Football League 1996–97|1996–97]]
|39||4||5||0||0||0||44||4
|-
|[[The Football League 1997–98|1997–98]]
|6||0||1||0||0||0||7||0
|-
|[[The Football League 1998–99|1998–99]]
|35||6||9||0||0||0||44||6
|-
|[[The Football League 1999–2000|1999–00]]
|31||1||4||0||0||0||35||1
|-
|[[The Football League 2000–01|2000–01]]
|24||2||1||0||0||0||25||2
|-
|[[The Football League 2001–02|2001–02]]
|4||1||1||0||0||0||5||1
|-
!Total
!152!!14!!21!!0!!0!!0!!173!!14
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
|[[Premier League 2001-02|2001–02]]
|31||1||4||0||0||0||35||1
|-
|[[Premier League 2002-03|2002–03]]
|34||0||7||0||4||0||45||0
|-
|[[Premier League 2003-04|2003–04]]
|32||2||2||0||1||0||35||2
|-
|[[Premier League 2004-05|2004–05]]
|36||1||8||0||0||0||44||1
|-
|[[Premier League 2005-06|2005–06]]
|35||1||7||2||0||0||42||3
|-
|[[Premier League 2006-07|2006–07]]
|20||0||1||0||5||1||26||1
|-
!Total
!188!!5!!29!!2!!10!!1!!227!!8
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|[[Premier League 2006-07|2006–07]]
|11||0||1||0||0||0||12||0
|-
|[[Premier League 2007-08|2007–08]]
|34||0||6||0||0||0||40||0
|-
|[[Premier League 2008-09|2008–09]]
|34||1||3||0||0||0||36||1
|-
!Total
!78!!1!!10!!0!!0!!0!!88!!1
|-
|[[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
|[[Premier League 2009-10|2009–10]]
|12||0||2||0||0||0||14||0
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]]
|[[Süper Lig 2009–10|2009–10]]
|14||1||2||0||2||0||18||1
|-
|[[2010–11 Süper Lig|2010–11]]
|25||0||2||0||4||0||29||0
|-
!Total
!37!!1!!4!!0!!6!!0!!47!!1
|-
|[[Al Jazira Club|Al Jazira]]
|[[2011–12 UAE Pro-League|2011–12]]
|19||3||1||1||3||0||23||4
|-
|[[Al Wasl FC|Al Wasl]]
|[[2012–13 UAE Pro-League|2012–13]]
|11||0||1||1||0||0||15||1
|-
|[[Sydney FC]]
|[[2012–13 A-League|2012–13]]
|3||0||0||0||0||0||3||0
|-
|[[Omiya Ardija]]
|[[2013 J. League Division 1|2013]]
|9||0||0||0||0||0||9||0
|-
|[[Watford F.C|Watford]]
|[[2013–14 Football League Championship|2014]]
|1||0||–||–||–||–||1||0
|-
|[[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] (loan)
|[[2013–14 Football League Championship|2014]]
|4||0||–||–||–||–||4||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!517!!24!!68!!4!!19!!1!!604!!29
|}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]]
|1996||1||0
|-
|1997||0||0
|-
|1998||1||0
|-
|1999–2002||0||0
|-
|2003||3||0
|-
|2004||5||0
|-
|2005||12||0
|-
|2006||9||0
|-
|2007||8||0
|-
|2008||7||0
|-
|2009||7||0
|-
|2010||10||0
|-
|2011||16||0
|-
|2012||9||0
|-
|2013||7||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!95!!1
|}

:''Score and result list Australia's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Neill goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ International goals scored by Lucas Neill<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/lneill-intl.html|title=Lucas Edward Neill - International Appearances|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation}}</ref>
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
| style="text-align:center"|1 || 11 June 2013 || [[Docklands Stadium]], [[Melbourne]], Australia || {{fb|JOR}} || style="text-align:center"|4–0 || style="text-align:center"|4–0 || [[2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC fourth round|2014 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|}

==Honours==
'''Millwall'''
*[[Football League Second Division]]: [[2000–01 Football League Second Division|2000–01]]

'''Blackburn Rovers'''
*[[EFL Cup|Football League Cup]]: [[2001–02 Football League Cup|2001–02]]

'''Al Jazira'''
*[[UAE President's Cup]]: [[2011–12 UAE President's Cup|2011–12]]

'''Australia'''
*[[AFC Asian Cup]]: runner-up, [[2011 AFC Asian Cup|2011]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/team/squad/_/id/628/league/AFC.ASIAN.CUP/season/2011|title=AFC Asian Cup 2011, Australian Squad|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>
*[[OFC Nations Cup]]: [[2004 OFC Nations Cup|2004]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/04oc.html|title=Oceania Nations Cup 2004|access-date=October 14, 2024}}</ref>

'''Australia U-20'''
*[[OFC U-19 Men's Championship]]: [[1997 OFC U-20 Championship|1997]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1997.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610233225/http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/U20/1997.html|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=dead|title=Young Socceroo Matches for 1997|access-date=March 13, 2025}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[Millwall F.C.#Player of the year|Millwall Player of the Year]]: 1996–97

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Twitter}}
* {{FIFA player}}
*{{J.League player}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20010302064940/http://www.lucasneill.com/ Official Web]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071213092545/http://www.whufc.com/page/PlayerProfilesDetail/0,,12562~9121,00.html West Ham profile]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120420221228/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/socceroos/players/Lucas-Neill/292 FFA – Socceroo profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/N/NA.html#NeillLucas OzFootball profile]
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{ESPN FC|5084}}
* Sebastian Hassett: ''[http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/lucas-neill-from-socceroos-captain-to-bankrupt-recluse-20160506-gooikc.html Lucas Neill: From Socceroos captain to bankrupt recluse]'', [[Fairfax Media]], 6 May 2016.

{{2007 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{Millwall F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Australia squads
| bg = #FCD116
| fg = #008751
| bordercolor = #008751
| list1 = 
{{Australia Squad 2000 Summer Olympics}}
{{Australia Squad 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2007 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2010 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Australia Squad 2011 AFC Asian Cup}}
}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neill, Lucas}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Sydney]]
[[Category:2005 FIFA Confederations Cup players]]
[[Category:2006 FIFA World Cup players]]
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[[Category:Footballers at the 2000 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Manly United FC players]]
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[[Category:Blackburn Rovers F.C. players]]
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[[Category:Everton F.C. players]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. footballers]]
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[[Category:Sydney FC players]]
[[Category:Olympic soccer players for Australia]]
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[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Japan]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport soccer players]]
[[Category:Australian expatriate sportspeople in the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Watford F.C. players]]
[[Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:UAE Pro League players]]
[[Category:J1 League players]]
[[Category:RB Omiya Ardija players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Australian men's soccer players]]
[[Category:People educated at St Augustine's College, Sydney]]