Before Tim Cahill turns 39 in December, the former Premier League star will have earned his 108th and final cap for Australia and started a new chapter in the Indian Super League (ISL).
The Socceroos' all-time top scorer has ended speculation about his future by signing a one-year contract with Jamshedpur FC for the 2018-19 season. The fifth edition of the ISL will mark a second season for the new boys from eastern India.
India coach Stephen Constantine tipped Cahill to make a big impact for the side from eastern India who are preparing for their second season in the fifth edition of the ISL.
"This is quite a coup for the ISL… Tim is a big personality and I'm sure he will add value to the league," Constantine said.
"I'm sure some of Tim's traits will rub off on the Indian players. He has a great work ethic, having been a top pro for a long time. You don't stay at the top by not looking after yourself and being disciplined.
"He has lot a bit of pace, which is only natural at almost 39. But Tim is a clever player, and, with his experience, I am sure he is going to be a major factor in the games."
And while the midfielder-turned-striker won't suit up for Australia in their Asian Cup defence in the United Arab Emirates in January, Cahill will be given a chance to say goodbye to the fans in a Nov 20 friendly against Lebanon in his hometown of Sydney.
It will present the perfect way for the enigmatic attacker to bring down the curtain on his professional career.
He had toyed with a return to Major League Soccer -- he spent three years with New York Red Bulls between 2012 and 2015 -- but the nine-month season of the MLS would too gruelling, given Cahill's age.
While the ISL won't be easy -- the relatively remote Jamshedpur will mean some long road trips -- the 12-round format is the right length for the ageing limbs of a man whose senior career began in 1998.
The season kicks off on Sept 29 and will run until March. There will be three international breaks, which will give Cahill time for promotional activities and family duties.
Cahill will be the biggest name in the Jamshedpur FC squad, and easily one of the most-accomplished players in the 2018-19 ISL.
Last season, ex-Liverpool winger Steve Coppell was in charge as Jamshedpur FC finished in a commendable fifth position, narrowly missing out on the finals.
This year, they have a strong Spanish flavour with ex-Atletico Madrid boss Cesar Ferrando appointed as manager, and three of his countrymen in the squad.
Jamshedpur FC are on a pre-season tour of Spain, culminating with a Sept 13 friendly against Atletico Madrid B. They're using Atletico's Los Angeles de San Rafael training facility as their base.
With his on-field influence diminishing, Cahill has barely featured at club level over the past couple of years.
After falling out with Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce midway through the 2017-18 A-League season, he made an emotional return to England with Millwall, where he took his first steps as a professional player two decades ago.
But he played a total of just 65 minutes in 14 matches with the second-tier side, coming off the bench in the dying stages of matches. He failed to add to his tally of 57 goals for the club.
Despite speculation that he might be overlooked for Russia 2018 by Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk, the popular No.4 became the first Aussie to play in four World Cups.
However, Van Marwijk waited until the final Group C match to inject Cahill into the tournament, giving him just 30 minutes as Australia lost 2-0 to Peru in Sochi to be eliminated.
His farewell game for his country will come as new coach Graham Arnold puts his mark on a national squad that has struggled to score goals without Cahill.
Jason Dasey is CEO of Cockatoo Media. Twitter: @JasonDasey
