Ex-Socceroos captain Neill bankrupt

Former Australia captain Socceroos captain Lucas Neill has declared bankruptcy in the United Kingdom with administrators from a British insolvency firm appointed to probe his financial affairs.

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The 38 year-old - who played 96 times for the Socceroos and captained his country a record 61 times - was declared bankrupt on 6 January.

Neill spent 15 years of his career playing in England with Blackburn Rovers, West Ham United, Everton and most recently Watford while he also played in Turkey, the Middle East, Japan and a brief stint with Sydney FC.

He is estimated to have earned some $35 million to $40 million during his career and has investments in the United States and a soccer coaching business in Sydney.

“Mr Neill is due to be interviewed when he returns to the UK in the coming weeks, at which point the Trustees will be able to obtain the background information required to determine the full scale of Mr Neill’s debts," Dale Hernon, National Head of Creditor Services at Begbies Traynor in London, said:.

“At this early stage of proceedings, it is currently unclear to what extent any funds will be recovered.”

After a 17-year international career, Neill last played for the Socceroos in 2013 with national team coach Ange Postecoglou confirming the veteran was not part of his plans for the 2014 FIFA World Cup campaign.

Neill was an ambassador at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup last year but has kept a low-profile in recent times.