Tim Cahill has next club lined up, says Kevin Muscat

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat says he knows Tim Cahill well enough to believe he has his next playing deal stitched up.

Cahill sensationally walked from Melbourne City and, most likely, the A-League on Wednesday after agreeing terms to rip up his contract.

The 38-year-old has yet to announce his next destination, saying he would focus on preparing for a fourth World Cup next June’s tournament in Russia.

It’s there that he will aim to underscore his place in the sport by joining Pele as one of just four players to have scored at four tournaments.

With so much on the line, Muscat says the all-time leading Socceroos goalscorer wouldn’t be leaving his future to chance. “Knowing Timmy … he’ll have something lined up,” Muscat said.

Cahill and Muscat have been teammates for both club and country. As Victory boss, Muscat has spent the past 16 months trying to negate Cahill’s influence at City.

They could yet find themselves in Russia together, should Muscat get the nod to take over from his mentor Ange Postecoglou as Socceroos coach.

Muscat wasn’t keen on looking too far ahead on Thursday, instead looking back to Cahill’s time in the A-League. His first act in Australian club football was to score one of the greatest goals in A-League history, against Victory.

Lawrence Thomas was left with no chance as Cahill rocketed a 40-metre half volley into the net in his first A-League derby.

Muscat might have resented that performance but said he was eager to see where Cahill ended up, for the good of the Socceroos. “His first season, that wow factor of Timmy coming back, certainly helped promote the competition,” he said.

“It served it’s purpose from that perspective. But it’s obviously a personal situation that I’m very far from.

“Whatever he decides, we wish him well and hopefully he gets what he desires to make sure he’s available for that World Cup.”