Manchester City coach Mikel Arteta says Tim Cahill should be regarded as a genuine Everton legend.

While the Aussie never won anything with Everton, Arteta says he carried the "identity" of the club.

Arteta told evertonfc.com: "He was my closest friend, he was like a brother to me.

"On the pitch we used to get on really well, we used to understand each other very well but outside the pitch we had a great relationship.

"Up to now he's one of those players I can say is my closest friend.

"He was the identify of that club, he had everything that the club could demand for a player to be. He could put his head into any challenge, he would fight for any ball, he had a desire to win every game.

"In my opinion he was the guy who had the identity of the club."