Another red card, another lonely walk down the player’s tunnel. That was the outcome for Kevin Muscat last Sunday when he was sent off for striking Adelaide midfielder Adam Hughes in the face during the Victory’s 4-1 loss to the Reds.
It adds to Muscat’s dubious “hit list” which has seen him make enemies across two continents and several countries. Former Birmingham City player Martin Grainger once dubbed Muscat “the most hated man in football.”
His tackle on Christophe Dugarry during a “friendly” against France at the MCG in 2001 was labelled an “act of brutality” by then-French coach Roger Lemerre. In 2004, former Charlton player Matty Holmes took Muscat to court after a 1998 tackle resulted in Holmes having four operations on his leg.
Without condoning the result of Muscat’s wild side, there are other distinctions that can be attributed to the player: Played in both the English and Scottish Premier Leagues, one of only three Australians to do so. Scored the goal in the Socceroos first leg World Cup play-off win against Uruguay in 2001.
Only prevented by injury from being the first (and so far only) Australian player to captain an FA Cup final side when Millwall made the final in 2004, although ironically it was a bad tackle by Muscat in the semi final against Sunderland that caused his injury. (More ironically, team mate Tim Cahill scored the winner for Millwall that day to take the team to the final against Manchester United).
Currently the only player to twice captain a side to the A-League championship.
What does that leave us with, an asset to the current game or a liability?
I know what Ernie Merrick thinks, and you can bet Sydney FC are quietly talking up their chances as they approach this round’s A-League clash knowing that Muscat will be watching from the stands. I suspect that Kevin Muscat is well aware of his reputation, and like all good sporting showmen, plays it to the hilt.
He’s by no means a mindless thug.
Off field he is an entertaining and thoughtful talker, quick to promote the qualities of the A-League. When Melbourne and Sydney drew that staggering 50,000 crowd to a regular season game in 2007, Muscat rightly pointed out there were few Australian players that weekend in Europe who played in front of a crowd as big.
If sport is theatre, and at times a clash of good vs bad, Muscat can be counted on to “don the black hat.” His persona and self-appointed role is no different to Anthony Mundine, who polarises opinion but approaches his boxing matches knowing there has to be an antagonist, willing to play the role of the cocky loudmouth, the man the crowd loves to hate.
On the field, Muscat is the A-League equivalent of former Western Bulldogs tagger Tony Liberatore, or Manly forward “Rambo” Ron Gibbs, prepared to do get dirt under his nails, to put himself around, even if that means that his performances are often remembered for snarl and bite rather than skill and speed of thought – and he most certainly has ample qualities of the latter.
There remains the perception that he has carried on for a season too long, that at 37 he has lost a step and is being exposed for it by younger, fitter players, that perhaps the bitter memory of a losing Grand Final was no way to bow out, and influenced his decision to carry on.
If that was the case, Merrick would not be bemoaming his absence this weekend against the side his detractors feel he should have played his last game against. Former Parramatta great Mick Cronin once said, “I’d rather play one game too many than one game too few.”
Maybe that was Kevin Muscat’s thinking too.
What would the A-League have been like without Kevin Muscat in it? Some players might say “less dangerous.”
If you support any team other than the Victory, and a Muscat action has you out of your seat screaming (navy) blue murder and shaking your fist at the man, you might also admit that it would have been less interesting.
Simon
Guest
Muscat's record speaks for itself. Here's a bio up to 2001 I suggest you read before making further positive comments about the most hated man football http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21649 And good old Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Muscat#Reputation Interesting to see that he almost managed to get Matty Holmes' leg amputated. That resulted in a 750,000 pounds out of court settlement. There's no place in the game for scum bags like Muscat.
Ban this thug
Guest
Guys this is the problem with australian soccer, anyone who tries to be skillful gets hacked to pieces, that one tackle could have effectively ended the career of that player, this bloke is a thug and how all praises are been awarded to him I'll never know...just imagine if you were the player or the players family and youve been on the end of kevin muscat challenge like that, how would you feel? Players like Kevin Muscat and Danny Tiato should be banned from the aleague and lets get players who want to play with flair and skill and not look to go out onto the park everyweekend and be tough and end the careers of those around them.
stormin
Guest
The tackle on the young heart player should be muscats last bad tackle in football he should be sindied from football for that there is no room in the game for a thug like that ,if i was that young lads parents i would be looking for a good lawyer becauuse that lad might not walk correctly again never mind player football muscat you are a coward shame on you.
Mahony
Guest
Tripe of the highest order - and that is something given the competition about the place..... How many people are sitting around in Europe saying I would catch a flight to an A-League game if Kevin was not in the competition. How many Sth Americans are discussing the failure of Australian football to deal with Kevin Muscat and the shame it brings on their league? This sort of overblowen rhetoric about Kevin is exactly the sort of stuff that outs his detractors as whinging little flowers who wish Kevin wore the #2 for them..... He is simply an ageing, but tallented and long sucessfull footballer who divides opinion on account of his personality and style. Nothing more, nothing less. The anti muscat hyperbole is bordering on the deranged in some quarters...
Breen
Guest
Is all publicity good publicity? I think not. Look at the only publicity RL and AFL get these days.
Breen
Guest
Muscats commentary was as articulate, intelligent, refined and cultured as his football. He has no more a career there then he has as a coach of any team wishing to play modern, beautiful football based on skill and intelligence.
Breen
Guest
Amen to that Jason. I couldn't have said it better.
Breen
Guest
He IS a mindless thug and the A-League and Australian football would have a higher standing around the globe if he had never put on the boots.
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
My thoughts exactly, I also think that you need a Muscat in your side to ever be successful. I think that the Pyuol, Keane and Materazzi and even Mark Van Bommel comparisons are fair in this regard, they are all prepared to walk a very fine line for their team, and the subsequent organisation at the back allows the better attacking talent to play their game. Nobody is comparing them like for like, obviously its no contest, however, we're not exactly comparing the Melbourne Victory to Barcelona, Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Spain, Holland or Italy here either... what is important is the ROLE that they all play in those sides...
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
Hmmm... Nothing like a Kevin Muscat article to prevent people from seperating emotion from logical conversation! (Well written and fair article BTW) I think the Roy Keane comparison is actually a fair one, Muscat has driven the Victory to success in the same way the Keane did for Machester United. One thing is for sure, if Liverpool had have forked out the 3.5mil that Fergie spent on him, they would probably still be on their f**king perch. I was using the same comparison with my wife when trying to explain Kevin Muscat to her... I also think Muscat's "thuggary" is actually a media beat-up. Now this is a controversial statement, but let me continue... The young Kevin Muscat wasn't tall enough to be a centre half, not quick enough to be a full back and didn't have the ticker to be a holding midfielder of true world class. So for a defender of modest talent, coming through in a truely different era remember, they only way to be successful was to be a hard man. And in this role, he was an outstanding success. The British leagues secretly love the hard man, and if we were to be honest, Muscat would look tame in the current Sunderland, Wolves and Stoke sides, or any side managed by Sam Allardyce. Muscat made up for his shortcomings as a footballer, by making sure he was harder and more agressive than the next guy. However, Muscat is actually a very smart footballer, and he has clearly learnt a thing or two during his time overseas. He has come back a much better footballer, and I think that the label of "A-League thug" is somewhat unwarranted. The reality is that Muscat is rarely booked, and even rarer still, sent off. We are quick to call him out when he does over step the mark, but other than being a pest, and one or two relapses (although I cant recall him inflicting any serious injuries during his A-League career), he is nowhere near as dirty as his reputation suggests. Bruno Cazarine's efforts in tonights game would have earned Muscat three or four red cards, and it amazes me that Butcher Burns isn't called out for his antics... Muscat reads the game better than anybody in the league, and is a brilliant organiser of a team, it is the reason for the Victory's success on the pitch, and why even at 37 and with shot legs, the Victory struggle without him. Adelaide would have won titles if he played for them... Something that no Adelaide fan wants to hear, but deep down we all know its true...
Tortion
Guest
Who chose the picture for this article? It is blatantly a dive.
jupiter53
Guest
What a paradox Muscat is. He obviously has great leadership qualities, he is determined and inspiring. He also uses the ball very well out of defence. You can count on him under pressure [the penalty against Uruguay is a great example] He is a far superior player to Tiatto. He has a strong personality. BUT, BUT....... the thuggishness that is fundamental to the way he plays is completely alien to the way I like to see the game played. I have no problem with being fierce, determined, strong etc. but there is a level of dirtiness and viciousness beyond that where Muscat constantly goes. For that same reason I never admired Roy Keane. I have asked myself what I would think of him if he played for Sydney. My answer is that I would still despise his approach. I'm glad I am a Sydney supporter and can exult every time he is sent off. I'll miss that when he retires.
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
In some minds, only if you count the chunnell :)
apaway
Roar Guru
Geography was supposed to be a good subject for me at school. Are England and Scotland no longer part of Europe?
MyLeftFoot
Roar Guru
Materazzi wouldn't have said it in English, but he may well have said it in Italian, and much worse.
Jason
Guest
I did not say that the UK does not pruduce quality footballers. Which is what I think you have tried to interpret here. I was simply correcting a previous statement "He couldn’t have attained the playing level he did in Europe by being a one-dimensional chop artist." As I believe the only way he attained a career overseas was by playing in the UK where one-dimensional chop artists can thrive, as is the culture. To underline my point heres a quote from the "great" man himself, "(directed at Ashley Young) don't go past me or I will break your legs."
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Jason - I don't see how "never playing in Europe" is an issue? Here are some of the best footballers of all time - all of the following finished 1,2 or 3 in the UEFA Ballon d'Or - and they NEVER ever played on the Continent, they were happy enough in England & Scotland (& eventually some played in the USA!): Stanley Matthews, Billy Wright, Duncan Edwards, Georgie Best, Bobby Moore, Bobby Charlton, Jimmy Johnstone, Kenny Dalglish, Alan Shearer Of course there are numerous other world-class footballers, who didn't finish in the top 3 of the UEFA Ballon d'Or, who only ever played in England & Scotland.
Evan Askew
Guest
I would also like to point out that Kevin Muscat won a premiership (monor premiership) with South Melbourne in 92-93 and a NSL cup with South Melbourne in 95-96.
Jason
Guest
Muscat never played in Europe. Only in England and Scotland. The footballing styles are completely different. He would never have made the pitch in Italy or Spain. In my opinion he has the potential to become a drawcard for the A-League off the field and in the media. From a purely footballing perspective he's a detriment, but in the longterm he can be a drawcard through his potential television career.
punter
Guest
Yes, you need villians playing, just a shame that they are all playing for MV.