BREAKING: Harry Kewell confirms he’s quitting Melbourne Victory
Harry Kewell can't believe it either (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
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Socceroo Harry Kewell says putting his family first is behind his decision to quit the Melbourne Victory and the A-League.
Kewell, 33, was set to sign a new contract with the Victory, for whom he played last season.
But his actress wife Sheree Murphy’s mother is gravely ill, and he has decided to remain in England with her and their young family for the foreseeable future.
“It was one of the toughest decisions we’ve had to make,” Kewell said in a statement issued by his management.
“I enjoyed playing for Victory and living in Melbourne, but family comes first and together we made a decision that it was best for us to remain close to our family at this time.”
The Victory was only informed of the shock decision late on Saturday, and had been convinced up until then that Kewell would agree a new deal to remain at the club.
New coach Ange Postecoglou was saying publicly late last week he expected Kewell to remain, and that the Socceroo attacker would be an integral part of his plans.
“I was looking forward to working with him this season, but he has family matters that need his attention so while it’s unfortunate, I completely understand,” Postecoglou said on Sunday.
“We’d been working very hard to come to an agreement with him and we were extremely confident both parties were close to finalising the deal, but these things happen and we wish Harry and his family all the best.”
Kewell’s A-League career looks to have ended with the decision.
His immediate playing future now looks to be in England – and almost certainly in the north of the country where the family are based.
A strong season at the Victory will have convinced possible suitors his body is up to the rigours of Premier League football.
He scored eight goals in 25 games in his only A-League season, with no major injury concerns and some strong showings at national team level during his stint in Australia.
Kewell activated a clause to terminate his original incentive-based three-year contract at the Victory at the end of the 2011-12 season.
He was then expected to sign a two-year deal, and while he had been linked with the new West Sydney franchise, Kewell had been keen to play on at the Victory until this weekend’s developments.
The former Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray star signed with Victory amid great fanfare last August.
He was the A-League’s highest profile signing in its seven-year history.
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June 24th 2012 @ 1:52pm
Recalcitrant said | June 24th 2012 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
He is off to play with Doncaster Rovers or Huddersfield.
June 24th 2012 @ 2:09pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 24th 2012 @ 2:09pm | Report comment
In times of crisis, for me, it’s always: “Family before football.”
My respect for H has gone up a(nother) notch when I heard his decision.
As a selfish MVFC fan, for sure, I’m disappointed I won’t get a chance to see the most technically-gifted footballer AUS has ever produced. But, I got to sit in the stands & see H playing for my club 14 times last season – something I never dreamed would happen.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:28pm
Kasey said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Family first. Always. A real man puts family before career.
Ironically I think it will make MV a better team.Tthey’ll no longer resort to the Gold Coast Suns playbook of give it to Ablett(Kewell) at every opportunity and instead will likely be much more team oriented. Plus they’ve actually got a proper manager this year instead of that donkey Durakovic from last year.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:33pm
Rabbitz said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:33pm | Report comment
Well said Fussball.
I hope that others can see that he has made the only real choice.
I am not a big Kewell fan but I do honestly wish him and his family all the best.
June 24th 2012 @ 2:22pm
Johnno said | June 24th 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
Fuss a country always comes first and family 2nd. We all sacrifice for our country first. This is poor form form Harry he has let the jersey down and ill add the soccer’s for that matter wanting Harry here to keep the next golden generation of soccer’s and matildas. Poor form Harry , you have to give back to Australian football you know. It is not all take take take, you have to give back to , Ary
June 24th 2012 @ 2:27pm
Ben of Phnom Penh said | June 24th 2012 @ 2:27pm | Report comment
Melbourne isn’t Australia. Leaving Victoria doesn’t mean he is abandoning Australia.
June 24th 2012 @ 3:30pm
Rabbitz said | June 24th 2012 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
Johnno, you do know that it is only sport?
It is no higher a vocation than any other entertainer.
Further, sayings like “Country before Family” sound awfully like the right wing faux patriotism (aka nationalism) that seeks to insult and damage through its xenophobic, “love it or leave” sloganism and bile.
Kewell is a talented footballer there is no doubt, but at the end of the day he is just an entertainer, he is not, and as far as I am aware has never claimed to be, some sort of homegrown superhero out to save the nation by kicking a footy around.
June 24th 2012 @ 5:01pm
Johnno said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
Well Rabbitz i didn’t mean his national duties in a military or political sense, but Harry does have national duties.
I mean this is Harry Kewell we are talking about, I hope Harry kewell realizes just who he is Harry Kewell our greatest ever socceroo he must be owned or indebted by that and to this great nation forever.
We helped his development to the big leagues form his humble days at Marconi, to soccer selection. We developed him into the wealthy and successful star he his today. We rode every step of the way with Harry during the world cup and his great goal vs croatia, to the Urugauy games where we lifter and carried Harry back up again overtime he got injured.
Harry is part of us and we are part of him and I just feel Harry has not acknowledged the huge debt he owes us the fans. I mean if it were not for the fans Rabbitz how else would Harry get a good salary like all entertainers rabbits they depend on repeat business and Harry is saying he doesn’t need us financially anymore at least that is how i interpret it.
I thought he was going to finish his footballing days in Australia not on the the side of the world in some continent like Europe.
A sad day in my view for Australian football, what would our legend our Johnny Warren say .
June 24th 2012 @ 5:18pm
Rabbitz said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
I imagine Uncle John would have said “Look after your family Harry, it is the right thing to do.”
Mate, I have been in and around the entertainment business for 30 or more years and this “Harry is part of us and we are part of him and I just feel Harry has not acknowledged the huge debt he owes us the fans.” is utter crap.
Entertainment is a two way contract. In Part One of the contract the viewer/listener pays a stipend to be entertained by the entertainer. The second part is that the entertainer then provides said entertainment.
He owes you nothing, just as you have no real say in what he does. If he and his family decide that it is time to retire, move to greener pastures, stop touring or drop out for a time to take care of his family, then that is their decision and their decision alone.
Sportsmen and women are not public property, they do not owe the “fans” more than fulfilling their contractual obligations, which I understand he has done.
There is no national interest, there is no debt to the nation, there is no obligation to put their family second to anything.
As for “We helped his development to the big leagues form (sic) his humble days at Marconi, to soccer selection. We developed him into the wealthy and successful star he his today.” WE did nothing of the sort. Sure he had opportunities afforded to him, but anyone with those particular talents would have received the same opportunities. In fact he had to leave this country to realise his dreams and potential. Again, Australia is not owed anything by this man (or any other successful entertainer).
June 25th 2012 @ 6:14am
Bondy said | June 25th 2012 @ 6:14am | Report comment
Rabbitz.
Couldnt agree more with your post, Johnno what do you want to do detain Kewell at Tullamarine ,it’s a global transferable market “confusing”,if we have any compassion as supporters we should be wishing the family the best of luck through immediate family health issues.
The January transfer window will be interesting.
June 24th 2012 @ 5:29pm
matthewthorpe said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:29pm | Report comment
harry has obviously done this for family reasons, as he stated. in my opinion he is entitled to choose family over club/national duties, as is everyone in their own lives.
June 24th 2012 @ 5:30pm
wisey_9 said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
Stop trolling Johnno. Of course family comes first.
Good luck to Harry – I wish him all the best.
June 24th 2012 @ 8:46pm
Johnno said | June 24th 2012 @ 8:46pm | Report comment
Hardly trolling. read this about people who take massive pride in playing for there country and what it means to the,. The article talks about being part of something bigger than your family, of the rugby family and taking full pride and will to do whatever you can for your country.
http://www.irb.com/jwc/news/newsid=2062569.html#a+supercalifragilisticexpialidocious+final
The just completed IRB under 20 world cup just held in south africa.
-And tell that to the south africa 1995 rugby world cup winning squad when they won the rugby world cup in Sth Africa in front of Nelson Mandela, that they were not part of something bigger. Watch the movie invictus to see my point.
-And the 1995 world cup winning captain Fracnois pioneer favourite quote in an itnerview after the match was, he said he would of ran through a brickwall for his country that day, such was the total sacrifice for our beloved Sth Africa.
-And they did this when rugby was amateur. So for those who say players should not have deep honour and sacrifice and do not owe there country anything well that is disappointing.
The samoan world cup team paid there way to rugby world cup in NZ 2011, and had a national telethon to support the costs.
And in an interview after the world cup the players said how sad they were they didn’t make the final stages, and how upset they were with the internal politics as they when they play for Samoa in a world cup are willing to die when they put that jersey on for there beloved Samoa.
We need that passion like the sth africa class of 95 and the samoa class of 2011 team in our sportsman and fans.
Or aye you should listen to Jonah lomu’s interviews, when he talks about how much playing the All Blacks meant to him or watched big brad thorns tears after the all blacks won the word cup for New Zealand. SBW turned down a much bigger money offer to play club rugby to be part of the 2011 All Black world cup team.
And tell that to the Brazil soccer players they would never turn down a Brazil jersey in a world cup whether paid or not.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:29pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:29pm | Report comment
What are you on about, Johnno?
Harry hasn’t said he’s not making himself available for AUS NT duty.
Harry has simply said that his wife wants to stay in the UK to provide support & comfort to her mother, who is gravely ill with cancer, and Harry wants to keep his family together so he, too, will live in the UK.
I can’t imagine anyone, who loves his family, doing anything different.
June 25th 2012 @ 6:22am
Bondy said | June 25th 2012 @ 6:22am | Report comment
It’s Semi Pro Am stuff that ,Whats your point to a professional sport.! No Wallaby player contracted to the ARU can leave this nation and continue to earn a professional salary in Japan or France for that matter whilst contracted to the ARU what a rort that is Criminal behaviour,you might want to sort that out before you become justice officer Johnno.
June 25th 2012 @ 9:16am
Kasey said | June 25th 2012 @ 9:16am | Report comment
You are a twit Johnno, you make it sound like HK has personally dudded you. He made the only sensible call he could as a family man. He owes us nothing. The fact you think HK learned anything about his trade in Australi betrays your complete lack of knowledge on the game. Harry left Oz at 14. He was trained at the Leeds academy. His sublime skills were a latent talent for sure, but they were polished in the English system. I’ve often been critical of HK in times past where it seems his commitment to the national tea seemed to waver but these were easily explained down to his professional relationship with Leeds Utd Manager (and serial moaner – David O’Leary and his rather more destructive towards public image relationship with the Snake that is Bernie Mandic. Good luck to the man and his family. Who knows, given the way his isssus talks of Australia, if things go pear-shaped for his mother in Law, he and the Kewell tribe could end up back in this country?
June 24th 2012 @ 5:34pm
theworldofando said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:34pm | Report comment
What a crock! As if a country always comes first, your family are the most important thing you have around you. Unless of course, they were not supportive or were outright abusive. To move back overseas for his wife to be near her “gravely ill” mother is in no way self-serving or letting his country down.
Imagine if he stayed on, leaving his wife and children in the UK whilst playing for MV. Imagine the headlines and shock-jock attacks that he would receive for not following the ‘Australian Ideals’ of being there for your mates and family.
Give it a rest.
June 24th 2012 @ 4:24pm
Midfielder said | June 24th 2012 @ 4:24pm | Report comment
Well done Harry … I assume he will return to football at some stage..
June 24th 2012 @ 4:46pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 24th 2012 @ 4:46pm | Report comment
Middy
From what I’ve been reading, H has been training with Blackburn Rovers during the off-season, to maintain fitness for NT duties. Sheree’s mum also lives in that part of the UK, so it makes sense that H will look for a team in that region.
June 24th 2012 @ 5:30pm
wisey_9 said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:30pm | Report comment
a return to Leeds perhaps?
June 24th 2012 @ 5:36pm
matthewthorpe said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:36pm | Report comment
now that i would tune in to watch!
June 25th 2012 @ 6:24am
Bondy said | June 25th 2012 @ 6:24am | Report comment
Western Sydney January transfer window.
June 24th 2012 @ 5:35pm
tommaso said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:35pm | Report comment
all the best harry – thank you for playing in the A league and I hope that you will return one day
June 24th 2012 @ 5:39pm
Red Block said | June 24th 2012 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
I smell a rat!
The first thing Ang did at the Roar was clear out the old guard. A few months ago, I wrote that there was rumours that Kewell had a huge influence on the Victory’s tactics and coaching in general and that Ang would not tolerate this. Victory fans vehemently denied this.
While Harry certainly has family issues to consider, one wonders if it would have happened anyway.
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June 24th 2012 @ 6:42pm
Rusty0256 said | June 24th 2012 @ 6:42pm | Report comment
Indeed a sad day for the A-League but I agree with most of the posters; family comes first, but Harry, you will be missed.
After the initial shock subsided then I started thinking though where to now for Victory. Ange has been carefully putting together an experienced ball-playing ‘spine’, one that was clearly missing in the last campaign. Imports Bru (DM) and Finkler (AM) seemed destined to be joined by a third import, possibly Spanish central defender Juan Jesus Gutierrez, but Harry’s non-arrival may now throw that plan into disarray. All of a sudden our forward line is looking decidedly thin.
The no-brainer sub for Harry, both in position and in X-factor would have to be Marcos Flores but that’s one Visa spot too many. So if Ange decides to stick with bringing in JJG, he will need to find an Aussie to drop into Harry’s very big shoes. The only two that come to mind who MIGHT be available are Joel Griffiths or Richard Porta (latter a very long shot).
Alternatively, Ange turns his back on Jesus (!), signs up Flores and brings in an Aussie centre-half, either the Og-Monster or Spiranovic.
At least there should be some freed up funds available to bring one of these, or similar, scenarios into reality.
June 24th 2012 @ 7:30pm
tonysalerno said | June 24th 2012 @ 7:30pm | Report comment
The Kewell and Ange Postecoglou relationship would never have worked. Too many egos would have caused too much conflict amongst the rank anyway.
I felt the victory’s international signings of Bru and the like put the writing on the wall for the socceroo.
Kewell’s move to the A-league was built on hype and expectations which were too high for Harry as he didn’t think it would take that long to adapt to the competition.Having experienced such a hostile welcome Kewell felt the need to buckle on his first contract extension and save his reputation as a prominent Aus. footballer.
June 24th 2012 @ 9:20pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:20pm | Report comment
“Having experienced such a hostile welcome Kewell felt the need to buckle on his first contract extension and save his reputation as a prominent Aus. footballer.” … HUH??
I went to every HAL match Harry played in Melbourne. There was no hostile reaction. Ever.
So, maybe, he received a hostile reaction at an away match. Not surprising. I expect every player from every away team to receive a hostile reaction.
So, which HAL matches did you observe Harry receiving a “hostile reaction”?
Harry Kewell was named in the 2011/12 HAL team of the year. This means that, according to fellow players in the HAL, Harry Kewell was one of the top 20 players in the HAL last season.
What more did you want from him?
June 24th 2012 @ 9:26pm
Midfielder said | June 24th 2012 @ 9:26pm | Report comment
Tony
Maybe the worst most uninformed post I have read in a long time…
June 25th 2012 @ 12:23am
Chips Rafferty said | June 25th 2012 @ 12:23am | Report comment
You obviously ‘aven’t seen anarchy forum.
This comment is genuine mensa material in comparison. he has at least kicked a sockah bawl, he isnt a consoler.
June 25th 2012 @ 6:26am
Bondy said | June 25th 2012 @ 6:26am | Report comment
Another one who comments but doesnt watch nor keep informed but feels the compulsion to post .
June 24th 2012 @ 10:41pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 24th 2012 @ 10:41pm | Report comment
Sheree Murphy, the wife of Harry Kewell has just posted about a dozen Tweets – specifically meant for MVFC fans – to explain the dramatic turn of events.
Sheree didn’t need to do this and, as far as I’m concerned, it’s a testament to her character that she took the time to think of us at MVFC, during this very difficult time for her family.
I’ve copied and pasted the Tweets she just sent …
Sheree Murphy @shereemurphy
This message is for the MV fans… Sorry to everyone else as I’m about to clog up your timeline!… I just want to explain why we’re not coming back to Oz…
When we moved over to Melbourne last year,three weeks into our stay my mum was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer
It was a complete shock to me and my family… I felt so torn as I was just about to start a new adventure with Harry and the kids…
But I knew my mum needed me. My 4 brothers and my mum felt it was best I stayed in oz (I was 7 months pregnant) with Harry and the kids
And they would take care of my mum. Everything that could go wrong with my mums treatment did…she had a real battle and is still fighting
I don’t want to go into too much detail as my mum is a very private person…as a family we have thought very long and hard about what to do for the best…
family will always come first over any job and I’m sure most of you will agree with me….
So we decided as a family that we would stay in the UK so I can take care of my mum…it’s not been an easy decision,especially for Harry..
It was a big ambition for him to come back ‘home’ and play and as a family we were all very much looking forward to living the Aussie life..
We had a taste of the lifestyle and loved it… We made some wonderful friends in Melbourne and will cherish our time we had out there…
We want to thank all the Melbourne victory fans for your amazing support…Harry will never forget the greeting you gave him at the airport
I’d also like to thank the Melbourne Victory fans I’ve met on here…you have all become my twitter friends…
All the best for the new season… #GoVictory
——–
As far as I’m concerned, anyone, who cannot understand why Harry Kewell made the decision to stay in the UK with his family, needs to re-adjust his/her priorities.
June 25th 2012 @ 12:19am
Chips Rafferty said | June 25th 2012 @ 12:19am | Report comment
Some half decent articles written by the scribes on ‘Roar’. The Roar sockah hacks deserve a pat on the back.
Not much sockah nouse on here from the fan boys who comment on the articles though. Keeps big boys like me amused.
‘spose the numpties and fan boys who post here are a damn site betta than those know nothing nitwits and clueless muppets who post on anarchy forum.
‘arry kewells been a useless hack in the larst few years, unwanted by any klub with ‘arf a brain. Only wanted in strayan sockah, ’cause no name clueless muppets, glory hunters and gumbies make stupid decisions at Oz sockah klubs. They’ll all lose the hard earned of the good folk who invest the readies in them. Gawd bless the future of Oz football!!!!!!!!
June 25th 2012 @ 9:18am
Kasey said | June 25th 2012 @ 9:18am | Report comment
Chips, inthe years since you started trolling the 442 boards you’ve never had a positive thing to say about the game why should anyone listen to your garbage?