Harry Kewell

Don't get me wrong... as a huge supporter of football in Australia, I love Harry Kewell. His prodigious talent was recognised by all after his wonderous spell at Leeds United which began when he was just 15 years old. However, this statement is tainted with irony because I am not so sure if he loves Australian football just as much. To be completely honest, I think he has fallen for the fat paychecks, the glamour and the prestige surrounding life abroad playing in the Premiership. But I ask; where is the glamour in being axed from your club? Where is the prestige in failing to honour your country's call when they need you for international matches? Sure, he came back to play for the World Cup in 2006, but who wouldn't? Rafa Benitez, Liverpool's manager, has just announced that Kewell will not be back at Anfield next season. He will see his contract out, and then say goodbye to the Kop. In 2003, Kewell moved to Liverpool from the soon to be relegated Leeds. He stated that Liverpool were the team he followed as a boy, and that there was a sentimetal value attached to the transfer. However, soon it energed that his manager took a significant proportion of the transfer fee. Players and their managers, motivated by greed?? Surely not. Yet the EPL is the type of environment where a player such as Kewell can earn $330,000 (Australian Dollars) on average for each of the 139 appearances he has made over the past 4/5 years, and still ask for more. I wonder, if he loved his club so much, and had just a shred of committment to the team, why would he not accept a pay cut whilst he continues to battle through injury? I conceed that this is a prime factor is his absence over the past 2 years. Fresh injuries, and reoocuring ones certainly did not do his career any favours. But the audacity of asking for yet another wage rise is pushing it too far. If and when he does quit the high life in Europe and possibly returns to play in the A-League; how will he bear the meagre wages paid to the players here? Only time will tell.

A few quotes from media sources in England...

"Colleen McLoughlin took a lot of stick recently when it emerged that she describes herself as a journalist on her passport,'' it said.
"But surely her audacity pales into insignificance when compared to that of Harry Kewell, whom passport officials around the world are being led to believe is a professional footballer.''

"Kewell costs more than Channel 5 pay for an episode of Neighbours - and only lasts half as long,'' its headline said.

"Remember Kewell, from his dashing days at Leeds when he would run at defenders and dazzle in Premier League matches, before Liverpool paid him a fortune and then he disappeared up his own bank account?''

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Comment by Harry

May 10th 2008 00:29

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It must be really hard to keep up the motivation once they start paying you that much and sign a long contract.

Comment by Big Eges

May 11th 2008 02:04

Spot on article, nicely written. It is a shame that we never got to see any resemblance of Kewell's Leeds form, whether that was due to injury or motivational issues. I can only hope that future Australia talent doesn't follow in his footsteps and shows a bit of loyalty to both club and country.

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May 2008

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