Australian football queen is seen hanging out with skipper Pat Cummins under fire for the fifth Ashes Test – after sacked AFL coach Stuart Dew joined the team in England
- Lucas Neill spotted with Pat Cummins
- Neill has retired in recent years
- He now coaches his son’s cricket team
Former Socceroos captain and Premier League defender Lucas Neill has been spotted with Test captain Pat Cummins after the fourth Ashes game at Old Trafford.
Just a week after fired former Suns coach Stuart Dew made a bizarre move to join the Australian Ashes squad, the reclusive ex-skipper was spotted with Cummins and coach Andrew McDonald.
The 45-year-old former Everton, West Ham and Blackburn defender, who made 96 appearances for his country, appears to have cut ties with the Australian football community since being sacked by Ange Postecoglou on the eve of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Neill was declared bankrupt in Britain in 2016 after a series of failed investments – despite earning nearly $40 million in his career.
He now lives in Lancashire with his wife and two children, and coaches his son Marcus’ junior cricket team at local club Lowerhouse.
Lucas Neill has been spotted with Pat Cummins after the fifth Ashes match at Old Trafford
Fired former Suns coach Stuart Dew was photographed with the team last week
Neill has made a few public appearances over the years, most recently when Tony Gustavsson was officially confirmed as the Matildas coach at an event in London.
“I was honored to do that,” Neill said at the time.
“This is a very important era for the Matildas and Australian football. After spending the day with Tony, it’s clear how passionate and determined he is to be successful and develop talent.
“His emotion combined with his attention to detail leads me to believe exciting times lie ahead.
“I wish Tony, the staff and all the Matildas all the very best as they embark on an amazing four-year journey.”
Postecoglou has since said he regrets the way Neill’s Socceroo career came to an end.
As captain and leader of the country for such a long time, Lucas had a celebrated career. Unfortunately, it ended at the end of a phone line,” Postecoglou wrote in Changing The Game.
“The end for Lucas shouldn’t have been a call from me to tell him he’s not going to the 2014 World Cup. I wonder if he would have felt better if I had told him in person. Maybe I should have taken him out to dinner.’
Neill, who made 96 appearances for his country, has seemingly cut ties with the Australian football community
Neill was declared bankrupt in Britain in 2016 after a series of failed investments
In his heyday, Neill attracted interest from superclubs such as Liverpool, but ultimately chose to stay on as West Ham captain.
Neill, who made his international debut in 1996, captained Australia 60 times but was left out of the Socceroos’ 2014 World Cup squad, marking the end of his international career.
In addition to England, he had stints with clubs in Turkey, the Middle East and Japan.