While Cahill was part of the side that won the 2004 Oceania Nations' Cup, the scale of the challenge presented in Asia is unquestionably bigger, making it by far the most important trophy ever won by an Australian team.

The 35-year-old veteran was mild in his celebration mode after the match but instead had a message for anyone who thought the Socceroos weren't good enough to win the trophy on home soil.

"All I can recall is everyone who didn't believe in us. That's all I can recall. It's just a sweet feeling to know people are going to have to jump on the bandwagon," Cahill said. "They've got no choice – we know the people who love football and the people who don't.

"It was a tournament we were never supposed to win with this group of players."

Cahill has shown a steely resolve all tournament to take each match as it comes. Those inside the camp say he's been a key leader in keeping the squad grounded as momentum towards the title began to build. "We were programmed to go out and play the game and not the occasion. The boys did it and it's a massive moment for Australian football," he said.

"[This] is one of the biggest moments in sport for Australia. Because this was an Asian tournament and it was so difficult to win."

After the match, Cahill joined captain Mile Jedinak in heading to The Star casino to celebrate the occasion  before backing up the next morning to meet with fans in Sydney's CBD.

While Postecoglou has embarked on a radical period of transformation within the squad, dispatching many of the players Cahill played with at national level over the past decade, the striker says the manager has been vindicated once and for all.

"I'm really proud of the boss, someone being Australian and having the passion to believe in the youngsters. To believe in the talent to really take us to a different level," Cahill said. "We've opened doors inside this team that people would never have known about unless this man [Ange] had shown people. I'm just happy he took me on the journey 14 months ago. This is a reward for Australian soccer."

However, Cahill raised eyebrows whenever the media attempted to question him about the recent rumours linking him to United Arab Emirates club Al-Wahda.

Rather than clarifying his future, the veteran did  not provide any answer, prompting more speculation that his time in Major League Soccer may be coming to an end. The sensational form of New York Red Bulls striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, the scorer of 27 goals in 32 games last season, has limited opportunities for Cahill as a lone striker, the veteran Australian's  preferred position in the latter stages of his career.

Wright-Phillips was last month elevated to one of the Red Bulls' designated player positions after the retirement of Thierry Henry, while Cahill has been spending more time in midfield.

The 2015 MLS season begins in March and Cahill  – who earned $4.67 million last season – has another year to run on his deal with last season's play-off semi-finalists.