MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Australia forward Tim Cahill has quit A-League team Melbourne City and will seek a new home to boost his chances of playing at a fourth successive World Cup.
Cahill, Australia's all-time top scorer with 50 goals in 103 games, leaves after netting 13 times for the Manchester City-owned club in all competitions since joining in August 2016.
"It’s never easy to say goodbye but it was great to win last weekend and make a contribution, and also to have the club sitting third in the league," the veteran said in a statement on Wednesday, his 38th birthday.
Cahill leaves only nine rounds into the A-League season and after threatening to quit the Warren Joyce-coached club if he was not given more playing time.
He was used as a 77th-minute substitute in City's 2-1 win at Newcastle Jets on Saturday.
The evergreen Cahill underlined his enduring class with a two goals to help Australia defeat Syria in the Asian World Cup playoff in October.
After the Socceroos beat Honduras in the intercontinental playoff in Sydney to secure a ticket to Russia 2018, he said he needed to make "big decisions" about his future as he attempts to earn a spot in the World Cup squad.
"Qualifying for the World Cup has been a great adventure, and it would be a massive honour to represent my country in Russia. That will be my focus in the coming months," Cahill said on Wednesday.
Australia are searching for a new coach after Ange Postecoglou announced his resignation last month.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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