Tim Cahill has revealed he chose number 17 at Everton because it was between the jerseys of Thomas Gravesen and Wayne Rooney.
Rooney departed Everton for Manchester United during the same transfer window in the summer of 2004 but was still an Everton player when the Australian arrived.
When asked about the jersey in a Twitter question and answer, Cahill replied: "That number was between "Wayne Rooney and Thomas Graveson [sic] and I knew the calibre of those two players and it just felt right."
Jonjoe Kenny, Sandro Ramirez and state of play for Everton's 14 loan stars
Cahill named Mikel Arteta and Leighton Baines as the two best players he lined-up alongside during his eight-year spell at Goodison Park while admitting Gary Neville was his toughest opponent.
He also fielded a question asking who was better in the air between him and current assistant manager Duncan Ferguson.
The 40-year-old said: "Tough question but I think I just edge him there haha. His touch and finish with both feet was first class."
Cahill says his goal against Newcastle United at Goodison Park in 2005 - securing a fourth-place Premier League finish - was his favourite Everton strike and said, "Both love these two clubs too much," when asked where he enjoyed his football most out of Everton and Millwall.
When posed with the question of fastest player, Cahill fired a light-hearted dig at his former club captain and good friend.
"Phil Neville when it was time to pay the bill!" he joked.
Cahill, who also gained 108 caps for Australia during his career - becoming their leading goalscorer of all-time in the process - retired in 2019 after a spell with Indian Super League outfit Jamshedpur.
