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Ex-Australia captain Lucas Neill declared bankrupt in the UK

Former Australia captain and Premier League defender Lucas Neill is to be interviewed by administrators after being declared bankrupt in the UK, according to insolvency firm Begbies Traynor.

Neill, 38, who played for English clubs including Blackburn, Everton and West Ham, is reported to have earned around AUS$40 million from his career as a professional footballer.

He is also reported to have invested some of that money during his career into property in the United States as well as a football coaching business in Australia.

"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 Begbies Traynor, said in a statement.

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

Neill, who played 96 times for Australia, acted as an ambassador at last year's Asian Cup.