Harry Kewell the icing on the A-League’s cake
Columnist By Adrian Musolino, 20 Aug 2011 Adrian Musolino is a Roar Expert
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- A-League, football, Football Federation Australia, Harry Kewell, Melbourne Victory, Socceroos
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Australia's Harry Kewell, right, scores as Iraq's player Basem Abbas, left closes in during their AFC Asian Cup quarterfinal soccer match at Al Sadd Stadium, in Doha, Qatar, Saturday Jan. 22, 2011. Australia beat Iraq 1-0. (AP Photo/Tara Todras-Whitehill)
Hear that noise? It’s the collective sigh of relief coming from the Australian football community upon hearing the news that, finally, Harry Kewell is coming to the A-League, having signed with Melbourne Victory for three seasons.
The protracted saga over whether he would or wouldn’t come home to the A-League is over.
Let the new sagas begin: what he can deliver in a Victory shirt; whether his body has three A-League seasons in it; and how hard Kewell, wife, brand and all will hit Australia’s celebrity circles.
These sagas will help the A-League with its never-ending quest of breaking through into the mainstream, at such a critical juncture.
The next television deal shapes as critical for the league’s finances, with negotiations entering the decisive phase in the coming months. Meanwhile, crowd averages remain stagnant and mainstream interest lukewarm.
Kewell can only help; commanding mainstream interest like no other Australian footballer – of the round-ball variety and possibly in all codes.
He has a golden ticket with Channel Nine, for example, a network that has typified the mainstream media shunning of the A-League. Now as an A-League player, Kewell will inevitably promote Victory and the league in every appearance he makes.
His looks, fashion interests and celebrity appeal may seem frivolous to hardcore football supporters, who will only care about his on-field product, but it’s those traits that matter (sadly) in today’s mainstream.
Awareness for the league, therefore, will reach new levels not seen since the initial Dwight Yorke-inspired heady days of the league’s first season.
Don’t believe me? See the attention, column inches, mainstream press and discussion his potential return home has generated in the A-League’s elongated off-season. Ironically, this press was forgotten as some quarters questioned his worth as the deal was sorted out.
Yes, it’s undoubtedly a risk given his history of injuries. And should he breakdown his impact will inevitably be limited.
The reduction in fixtures, particularly midweek games, from last season will help his body cope with the strain.
But in Archie Thompson, Danny Allsopp, Jean Carlos Solorzano, Isaka Cernak and Marco Rojas, Kewell will have ample support in Victory’s attack, with more than enough cover should injury strike.
As the 2011 Asian Cup showed, Kewell can still deliver in spectacular bursts, even if his longevity remains questionable.
Nevertheless, it’s a risk worth taking – the sort of gamble A-League clubs and the league itself needs to take.
Undoubtedly there’ll be some positive Kewell-effect on memberships, crowds and ratings – to what extent remains to be seen. If not, the league will continue on unabated. Despite how some portray it, the league’s future is not being gambled on Kewell – Football Federation Australia hasn’t sold its soul in guaranteeing his arrival and Victory is a strong enough club to not need his presence.
As the signing saga showed, if Kewell and Mandic continue any contract wranglings, they will come across as the bad guys, not the FFA.
If successful, the rewards are obvious. The temptation would then be to view his arrival as the turning point for the league.
After all, if crowd averages rise, mainstream media coverage increases, and more current Socceroos return home as a result, then Kewell will be portrayed as the saviour of a league that had stagnated.
But instead we should view the 2010/11 season as the true turning point, thanks to the football being played by Brisbane Roar, taking the league to new heights technically; the birth of the Melbourne derby; the arrival of AAMI Park as the archetypical boutique stadium the league needs; and the maturing of clubs, who are starting to look like proper football clubs as seen by the spate of Director of Football appointments.
Kewell, rather than being the sole cause in any potential upturn for the league, will rather be one of the leading vehicles to spread the message, to help showcase/preach what the A-League already has.
His sagas are now the A-League’s sagas, which will generate the much-needed media attention it desperately needs.
This is great news for the game.
Follow Adrian on twitter @AdrianMusolino
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August 20th 2011 @ 3:27pm
Realfootball said | August 20th 2011 @ 3:27pm | Report comment
Terrific, balanced piece. Particularly agree with your perspective on last season as the true turning point, for all the excellent reasons you mention.
The process of getting Kewell here has been long and unattractive. Hopefully some of the considerable eroded goodwill will now return. The litmus test will be Melbourne Victory memberships.
August 20th 2011 @ 3:28pm
ken said | August 20th 2011 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Finally , the ridiculous rumours of Harry going to the middle east have been quashed. People thinking his holiday in Dubai could only mean he would sign for a team over there-What non-sense!Never a doubt that he would want to settle back in Oz with his family.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:01pm
Qantas supports Australian Football said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:01pm | Report comment
Well I’m glad that’s over. It was becoming all too boring and I had to switch off in the end to the constant “will he or won’t he” on going saga. However, it will be good to see him turn out in the HAL. I’m looking forward to seeing him up against my team GCU at Skilled Park Robina. I hope he turns out for these fixtures, but I won’t hold my breath because somehow I reckon the old groin injury excuse will come out again. But if he does play I’ll give him a cheer because he should be given the respect of one of our best players ever to don the green and gold—hopefully a draw card for our junior kids up here to see one of our greats.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:07pm
Johnno said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:07pm | Report comment
A bad move in my opinion the phrase is the ASHES killing test. I think Harry Kewell will kill the A-league. The whole focus of the A-League will be on Harry Kewell. Not the a-league, not the victory, and not Sydney F.C. It will be all bout Harry. And I think that is bad for Australian football. ANd he is washed up Galatasary did not want him, and that’s a much bigger team than the Victory and the Turksih league is bigger than the a-league, so Harry is not the player he was. In theory it in my opinion sounds great for Aussy soccer, but in reality this is a bad move by the A-league to have Harry Kewell in the A-League.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:13pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:13pm | Report comment
Johnno, are you an HAL member?
I just need to understand if you have a biased agenda, or are making an objective analysis after rigorously reviewing Harry’s career.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:29pm
Johnno said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:29pm | Report comment
Fussball ist unser leben. What naitonality is that Name by the way. No i am defiantly not a HAL member, i prefer the old NSL any day of the week. And i don’t have an agenda, but i did agree with Pim verbeeks assessment of the A-league, and can’t believe he copped so much abuse about his opinions, but mark Swarcher made similar opinions and got off socket fee. 1 only has to look at the a-league soccer’s match vs kuwait in Canberra few years ago, Pim was justified and everyone shut up acknowledging his superior knowledge of football than the regular man in the street, and ate humble pie of Pim.
I am makieng analyisis objecitively, after reviewing harry’s carrer.
A young Harryy Kewell at leeds had the potential to be one the best 10 or even 5 players in the world he was awesome at Leeds. Then injuries meant after about 2002 he could not consistently be the same player week in week out ever again. Has always been world class for the socceroos in the big matches.
No agenda just don’t think washed up soccer’s who can’t perform consistently week in week to are good for the A-leauges image. Just becomes a publicity stunt in the end and that is not good.
ANd also harry soccer’s form will suffer as he is not playing in as tough a week to week league, just look at jason Culina as an example, not as dominant or as good for soccer’s after coming to HAL.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Pim made his assessment in 2008 … life moves on and things have changed.
So, you “agree with Pim’s assessment” … how many HAL matches have you seen – LIVE in the stadium – in the past 3 years?
If you haven’t seen a significant number of matches then, in my opinion, your assessment of the HAL is worthless.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:34pm
Johnno said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:34pm | Report comment
I have seen zero, i am not a fan of the HAL in it’s format , i think ti is taking down football down a bad direction in Australia. I am not a fan. ANd where is that name originated form your user name curious. Did you agree with pin’s assessment at the time of the A-League.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:56pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:56pm | Report comment
Johnno … so, you haven’t seen a game … beautiful work – that’s why most criminal barristers advise their clients “to remain silent”
My username originates from a song made famous by the 1974 West German football team – I heard it during WC2006 and it stuck in my memory. There’s also film by the same name that I’m trying to access.
I cannot say whether Pim’s assessment was accurate since I’ve never watched, or taken part in, training with any European football club.
What I do know is that the Champions of Germany – Borussia Dortmund – has signed a CCM player, Mustafa Amini, but to further his development, Dortmund want him to continue playing in the A-League for one more year, rather than simply training with their squad.
So, Dortmund do not agree with Verbeek’s assessment – but, to be fair, Verbeek may, too, have changed his mind.
August 20th 2011 @ 6:31pm
jamesb said | August 20th 2011 @ 6:31pm | Report comment
Geez your a negative so and so.
Lighten up!
August 20th 2011 @ 10:13pm
NY said | August 20th 2011 @ 10:13pm | Report comment
“Johnno … so, you haven’t seen a game … beautiful work – that’s why most criminal barristers advise their clients “to remain silent” ”
Game, set, match!
August 21st 2011 @ 7:53am
Mahony said | August 21st 2011 @ 7:53am | Report comment
No agenda – I just don’t like the A-League so I have to feign concern for it’s future on a day when, as the article states, everyone else is just relieved and thinking about the possibilities. No agenda – my arse……
August 21st 2011 @ 6:31pm
dasilva said | August 21st 2011 @ 6:31pm | Report comment
Graham Arnold led an A-league team to defeat Kuwait 2-0 at home in an Asian Cup qualifiers and it was a comfortable victory
Pim Verbeek failure to beat Kuwait is the reflection of his coaching not the standard of the A-league.
His bagging of the A-league was a deliberate media mind game to give him an out card in case his team lose. If the socceroos win, all is good, if the socceroos lose with an all a-league squad, the SBS media will excuse his performance and used that as a platform to talk about the standard of the league instead of talking about Pim’s coaching performance
SBS and a lot of the media ate it up and took the bait and Pim avoided the scrutiny.
I lost a lot of respect for Pim during the whole saga and it was completely devious work from him.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:04pm
apaway said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:04pm | Report comment
And was David Beckham going to the MLS a disaster for that league, Johnno?
Glad you enjoyed the NSL, but in its latter years, the NSL could never have attracted a player of Kewell’s pedigree.
August 20th 2011 @ 9:28pm
Johnno said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:28pm | Report comment
Yes apaway, i almost called you amway lol sorry. Yes David Beckham has ben bad for the mls in my opinion as well. Reasons why.
He is not the same player he was, therefore making a mockery of his legend. 2 the MLS has been the BeckLS, and the -league will resemble, the HKLeague. When 1 player hogs the limelight unbalanced it detracts form the other good stuff the league does,and also the tv and FFA or MLS or A-league will put all there time into 1 player.
And buckram attracted a lot of whistle fans in the MLS he had a few verbal spats with fans and teammates most notably Landon Donavon. ANd as for marketing is this the type of marketing the MLS or A-league wants all the attention focused on 1 has been player, who was once a top world class star.
And when fans watch they are scuttling harry Kewell not the rest of them opposition players, in other words he starts to hog all the media attention and hog the league it is not the type of a-League i as a fan would want to be associated with. Also it will impact his soccerroos form at a crucial time in the soccer’s development, he wont be playing as high standard therefore it puts his World Cup 2014 spot and 2015 Asian cup spot at risk.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:11pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
To all those, who said “Harry is greedy” I’m sure we will be deafened by your silence now?
And, he’s getting NOTHING from the FFA, so I guess those whingers have also been silenced.
Now, just one more group of whingers to tackle – those, who think “H can’t play any more”. I expect people like Roy Masters, who is a football ignoramus, to question Harry’s football worth but I’ve been shocked by the number of football fans, who also doubt H’s capacity to play.
In 1996, at the age of 17, H put Australian footballers firmly on the world’s radar when he made his debut for Leeds.
Now at the age of 32, H will put the the A-League firmly on the world’s radar – simply by signing on the dotted line.
On behalf of all those True Believers, who stuck with you through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, I simply say: Welcome to Melbourne, H – great to have you back home.
He’s coming home
He’s coming home
He’s coming
Harry’s coming home
August 20th 2011 @ 7:46pm
ItsCalledFootball said | August 20th 2011 @ 7:46pm | Report comment
Fussball,
GREAT NEWS HARRY AND VICTORY!
Fantastic news that Harry Kewell is playing in the A-League in a few weeks.
While I might disagree with some of the details of his contract I have always believed its great for Australian football. This season has to be better than the last in terms of ratings and attendances and revenue. A big boost for the Media and TV deals coming up too.
Congratulations too to the FFA for sticking up for their side of the bargain and not giving in on the promotion and sponsorship issue and credit to Harry for accepting that for the good of the game.
In the end its turned out just fine for the A-League and Victory.
The details are being kept a secret, but I hope the FFA, A-League, Victory and Harry make enough money out of this so we all benefit.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:51pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:51pm | Report comment
ICF – yes, it’s taken a while but as Hannibal Lecter wisely told Special Agent Clarice Starling … “all good things to those who wait”
For me, it’s never been “about the money” MVFC can make. And, clearly, contrary to much speculation, for H, it’s never been “about the money”.
This is about the intangibles.
He’s the best Australian footballer I’ve ever seen and money cannot buy the joy I’m going to get sitting with my 78 year old father watching H play every 2nd week for the next 3 years.
And, this is also about respect.
H is held in the highest regard by every Australian pro-footballer – past and present.
So, for him to return to play in the HAL is a major milestone in the evolution of the HAL.
It provides the HAL with added credibility for the people who matter – his team mates in the National Team who may have been thinking about returning to the HAL, young players in the HAL who may have been itching to play o/s, young kids who have a dream to play pro football and, of course, the True Believers in Australia – the fans, who realise the HAL has development issues, but it’s OUR league and we want it to grow.
August 20th 2011 @ 9:10pm
ItsCalledFootball said | August 20th 2011 @ 9:10pm | Report comment
Fussball,
I must admit you were right in the end, but if it means Harry is playing in the A-League, then I am glad to admit I was wrong on one or two points.
I never tried to blame Harry though, I think all along that Mandic was putting Harry in compromising situations and in the end to his credit, looks like Harry has made some concessions to the FFA for the good of the game.
Earlier this year I cancellled my Fox subscription in disgust at how much money they gave to the AFL, but I’m thinking about renewing it now if Harry will be on live every week and I won’t be able to get down to Melb for the opening game against Sydney.
August 21st 2011 @ 11:02am
Geordie said | August 21st 2011 @ 11:02am | Report comment
“H is held in the highest regard by every Australian pro-footballer – past and present.”
………except for Robbie Slater.
August 20th 2011 @ 8:36pm
Karmikel Funk said | August 20th 2011 @ 8:36pm | Report comment
Just because people opposed the deal doesn’t mean they didn’t want Harry to play in the A-League. It was about the details of the deal and the way it was negotiated and dragged on.
People will soon forget all that and just look forward to the footy and the new A-League season.
All genuine A-League fans are thrilled Harry is coming here in a couple of weeks to train and to play in the A-League.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:19pm
Roger said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:19pm | Report comment
Hehehe…. hahahha… HAHAHAA…. BWAHAHAHAHAHH…. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!!!!
That is all
August 20th 2011 @ 4:21pm
pete4 said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:21pm | Report comment
Awesome news!! I think just by dropping most of the mid-week matches crowds will be back up this season again anyway but with HK in there the Victory should do especially well down there
August 20th 2011 @ 4:30pm
nordozzz said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:30pm | Report comment
quite the attacking line for MV adding HK after Rojas, Solarzano. A serious tilt at Asia you’d have to think, they have the league season to get things firing.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:41pm
nordozzz said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:41pm | Report comment
well two league seasons… they’ll have to qualify again!
August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm
con said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
i am kinda worried about melbourne heart now tbh, i dont see how their fans will increase if kewell joins victory. i can see alot of people jumping on the victory bandwagon however
August 21st 2011 @ 2:47am
gawa said | August 21st 2011 @ 2:47am | Report comment
you really do have the ability to find the negative.
August 21st 2011 @ 3:36pm
Axelv said | August 21st 2011 @ 3:36pm | Report comment
Lol he has a point, the type of people that are willing to jump ship (and there is a large portion of them at Heart!!, otherwise they wouldn’t be going for them in the first place) would not hesitate to go back to Victory. Reasons for hating Victory, 1 Merrick, 2 Muscat, 3 Their style. All of those are gone, and now we have Harry Kewell, the greatest Australian player in history
, and i have already read a number of “Heart fans” saying they are giving up their club to go back to Victory. Sad but true, personally I don’t want any of the Heart fans to come back to Victory, but sadly that is the predictable behavior of the turncoat.
August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm
Rob McLean said | August 20th 2011 @ 4:32pm | Report comment
Great news for the A League.
Thanks H. Look forward to seeing you at Hindmarsh.
Yup, I’m excited.
And…..it’s looks like a great deal from the fans, to the player himself, the club and the league.
Congratulations.
Reallllly hope the body holds up.