Lucas Neill

This weeks player profile is all about the hammers and Austrailian captain Lucas Neill. Lucas was born in Sydney on the 9th March 1978. In 1994 he went to Australian Institute of Sport for a scholarship for football. Lucas became a firm favourite with all the women.

Whilst playing for AIS, Austrailian Institute of Sport, Milwall came along and watched him and liked the look of him. He then moved to Milwall on a free transfer. 4 months after joining he made his debut in February 1996 against Luton. He went on to play 178 times at the Den scoring 13 goals. In September 2001 Neill was the longest serving player at that time for Milwall and the right back then requested a transfer. Blackburn were quickest to react and snapped up the signing with an initial fee of 600k with an extra 400k depending on appearences. His first game for Blackburn came against Sunderland. Then later on that month he went on to score his first goal for the club against rivals Bolton. Whilst at Blackburn Neill conquered all defensive positions with ease benefiting Blackburn and Australia. The Blackburn fans regarded Lucas to be a determined player and proved it with fantastic performances week in week out being one of the most consitent players for Blackburn at that time. In the 2003-04 season he was described as a dirty player and he went on to break Jamie Carragher's leg a few matches after. Over 6 years for Blackburn he made 188apps scoring 5 times. Lucas rejected a 4 year extension in 2006 as he felt it was time for a change and a new challenge. Liverpool and Chelsea were in the race to buy him and soon enough the Blackburn fans disliked Lucas and were booing him.

In January 2007 Neill signed for the surprise team West Ham over Liverpool. But Why? Reports claimed it was the money West Ham were offering him which was around 60k a week. The deal was completed on the 23rd of January. In Neill's first game for the hammers he damaged his knee and was forced to leave the field in a 1-0 defeat against Watford. He captained the side on the 3rd of March in a 4-3 defeat to rivals Spurs. He went on to take part in every game of the season afater this. He was playing well and the West Ham fans started to like him but he was still being critised outside the Boleyn. He went on to play a key part in the Great Escape for the Hammers. When Reo Coker went to Villa Neill was given the Captains armband permantly. Lucas scored his first goal for the Irons earlier on this season in a 3-2 defeat away at struggling West Brom.

He made his debut at 18 years and 7 months for Australia against Saudi Arabia being the second youngest player to play for Australia after Harry Kewell. He also played for the national team in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He helped them qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Neill played all 4 games for the Aussies wearing the #2 shirt. A controversial penalty was given against him against Italy. Totti slotted the pen away meaning Australia were out of the World Cup. After the World Cup he captained the side being the 50th ever captain.