Reports of Melbourne Victory’s audacious bid to lure Socceroos superstar Harry Kewell to the Hyundai A-League may prove to be unfounded, but if the move eventuates, it could be a massive boost for Australian football.
No-one can question the talent of the 32-year-old, and he showed at the Asian Cup that he still has much to offer the game.
He would undoubtedly be the star attraction of the A-League, bringing fans through the turnstiles and instigating a flurry of interest from potential sponsors.
However, I believe that there are a few factors that should be considered by his possible A-League suitor’s and fans, which include:
Financial demands
During his time at Liverpool, Kewell was often lambasted by supporters for his huge wages, which they felt were largely undeserved. After leaving for Turkey in 2008, it was estimated that he had cost the club an average of $241, 128 per game.
According to an article in The Sydney Morning Herald, Kewell was approached by the Melbourne Heart before their inaugural season last year, but demanded a contract of $2.5 million per year, plus a beach house, two luxury cars, a percentage of gate takings and even a say in picking the team!
No A-League club could afford such ridiculous demands.
Kewell and his management have made it clear in the past that money is important, therefore he would be highly unlikely to accept a large wage cut, particularly if he is being offered substantially more by Queens Park Rangers or other cashed-up European clubs.
Injury proneness
Having played just 138 matches throughout his five years at Liverpool, and also struggling at times during his stint with Galatasaray, signing Kewell for such big money would be somewhat of a risk.
Though the warmer conditions in Australia might help prevent recurrences of the soft tissue injuries that have caused him so much trouble, the physicality of the A-League could prove to be too much for his fragile body.
His high status and wage demands means that other clubs will target him. The last thing potential A-League suitor’s need is for their very expensive signing to be sitting on the bench for long periods at a time.
Age
Many fans initially agreed that it would be the perfect scenario for our aging overseas stars to return home to play before retirement beckoned. However, the performances of John Aloisi, for example, has also led to some arguing that it would be more worthwhile to pursue younger, cheaper targets.
Aloisi became Sydney FC’s marque signing in 2008 and largely failed to live up to expectations. If Kewell struggled to perform in the A-League, it could reopen the debate over signing former heroes.
Passion
Even when he was playing in the English Premier League, Kewell’s commitment was often questioned by fans. Liverpool supporters, in particular, often described him as fat and lazy.
If he comes back to Australia, only to disrespect the league through a lack of hunger and spirit, he could tarnish his reputation and embarrass those who fought hard to win his signature. However, with his eyes apparently set on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it would be unlikely for Kewell to return to his home country looking for an easy ride.
Personally, I would love to see Harry playing in the A-League. It would be fantastic. However, a deal should only be made if it is within the best interests of a particular club. If his financial demands or intentions are questionable, the risk is far too great.
The future of the current A-League clubs is more important than signing a Socceroos hero.
Phutbol
Guest
One quick observation - you say he played 138 games in 5 seasons at liverpool and was blighted by injury for a lot of the time, but 138/5 = 27.6 games per season... how many games in an A-league season again? Fair chance he would be ok to play most games given the lower demand in terms of games played. probably a good move for him too in terms of prolonging his career. I'd also argue that England and Turkey are at least as physical as the A-league. If his choices are Australia or the US surely he'd be better suited coming home where he's a real household name and can make a difference to the game here. If he is intending to stay in the more demanding (schedule wise) leagues in Europe though, good luck to him.
Midfielder
Guest
Ben Just a couple of points about your analysis ... first his manager has said they have not asked nor stated a fee yet and the 2.5 mill + + + is a miff.... second you say he lacked passion HHHHHHHHHMMMMMMmmm at Leeds until he left he was a hero and considered one of the hardest working players in the EPL... the same at Liverpool ... Was / is he injury porn it would appear so... However back to the passion.... when at Leeds he was not often rested and their key man meaning he was heavily marked ... he played every game Leeds played in when fit often over 50 games a year... Then he said look my body is breaking down I will play the big games for Australia but against the island nations it's not worth me coming home... Never have words come to be more correct ... Harry was attacked constantly for this remark... yet he was playing over 50 games if you include pre-season near 60 games a year... and his body was breaking down... so he was saying the obvious but as is the want with Australia's football media ... it was because he had no passion... I find your article shallow in is research and panders to stereo types of what some in our football media and the football hating media try to do to our Heroes... Can you not celebrate a 15 year old kid becoming at his peak ... but still not having reached his full potential being rated one of the three best left sided players in the world. O'Leary flogged him to death it was his work hard and doing more than he should at Leeds and not being given enough time to recover at the KOB that robbed us of ever seeing his best....
Griffo
Roar Guru
"demanded a contract of $2.5 million per year, plus a beach house, two luxury cars, a percentage of gate takings and even a say in picking the team!" I think all but the last two would be a no-brainer at the Jets. Always a nice beach side property going at Merewether and cars (or horses) are like >that< but Kewell would have buckleys of choosing the team. Leading the senior players group and offering advice to the younger players and doing clinics with the kids around Newie, that's different. So is a plan on gaining coaching licences once he hangs up his boots. Family is important to him as well. Good place to bring up kids here. Hope the Jets have put together a decent proposal. On the "Age" factor I can see all the arguments and you cannot ignore his medical history - Kewell would be a risk and I think you could not expect him to flog his guts out week-in, week-out 2 years straight. He is going to start matches for sure, but increasingly be subbed. Then you watch what the fans of Brazil have done for Ronaldo: 15 minutes at the end of the first half in a friendly against Romania; missed a few easy chances and physically his body would be out of place on a park football team. But the fans, they payed their respects. Kewell is a legend of our game and I would welcome him at the Jets while he is still quite capable of playing and on the right side of 35, even if it is a good 70 minutes a game. He is going to earn his pay off the field as well, so that is a factor. To me anywhere in the A-League would be good so we can all see him play at least once before he calls it quits.
Realfootball
Guest
Shame about all the other things they can't do. If any of them make a half decent AFL player, I'll line hats up eat.
Nathan
Guest
Thought that went without saying :)
Sherrin-Burley-Faulkner
Guest
Kicking a sherrin, and kicking a soccer ball are 2 very different things, i have seen him attempt to kick a sherrin, and he did not have a clue, besides recent code hoppers Huloa have shown they they can at least catch a ball !.
Roarchild
Guest
Hmmm Why don't GWS sign him and pay him a couple of million a season and then they can loan him to Sydney FC around Xmas time on the cheap :)
Realfootball
Guest
Let's put it this way - Brisbane with no marquee will still beat Sydney FC with Kewell. His value, like Beckham, is predominantly in publicity and promotion. I agree with Fuss - Victory would recover their investment in him, even at $2.5 million plus benefits. Sydney, less so. The club is so low that it is hard to see them recovering costs, even with Kewell. I think Kewell will go to Melbourne. Biggest club in the country, and a chance of the title. Sydney is neither. Wouldn't be surprised if the identity of Victory's coach influences his decision. Would I want Kewell at Brisbane? No. I think that one player earning as much as the whole salary cap would destabilise any team, and he simply isn't that good anymore. I would honestly rather have Broich, if it was a choice. Kewell at 32 isn't going to change a game. He'll change the media coverage, but if he spends the season on the treatment table, it won't be in a good way. Yep, big risk. I wouldn't want my future riding on that call.
Roarchild
Guest
It's warned me of mediocre coaches for sure.
Nathan
Guest
Would have thought the Perth Glory experience would have warned people off of mid-thirties marquees...
Ben Murphy
Guest
Danny Mac, I completely agree that Aloisi was no-where near our best player in that 2005 side and players like Kewell, Cahill and Viduka are obviously far more talented. The comparison I was trying to make was purely from a financial standpoint - Aloisi cost Sydney a great deal of money as their marquee signing and didn't have the necessary impact. He is seen as a hero mainly because of the penalty that took us to the World Cup - realistically, he didn't achieve much overseas in club football. Depending on your opinion, Kewell (though he has been far more successful) could also be viewed as an aging player that will cost a lot of money for little return on the field.
Roarchild
Guest
It's a nice thing to be able to say our best ever players play in the A league....shame Viduka didn't go arround for 1 season with Heart. That said I would expect the mainstream media to quickly dump Harry if he came back and for it to become all about Tim. Football fans would get a kick out of seeing Harry run arround every week and surely that's what matters the most.
Ari Viderci
Guest
I don't know. I'd love to see Harry in HAL but part of me thinks it'd be wiser giving twenty young players a shot at full-time football and unearthing the next Harry than splashing it all on the last one. So far as the marketing goes, I can see the points of difference between a Kewell and an Aloisi but if we're talking about quality and reputations, what about a Kewell and a Fowler? Will Harry being a Socceroo make that much of a difference? Perhaps it will, I don't know. It's not my money though so mark me down as a yes.
nordster
Guest
fingers crossed he will be soon! At least two of his suitors are wearing the three stripes this year. He'd be good value for any of their sponsors for add-on deals and marketing.
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
Sadly though, the marquee system doesn't allow the spreading of the 2.5m around, or else you'd see that happening at most clubs I would think... better business sense, although fuss' BoE calcs would suggest otherwise!
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
There is more to it than just "he's injury prone"... Firstly, despite being physical, the A-League isn't as rough as the Scottish league, and would be on a par (physically) with the better championship teams. However, the championship is 46(?) games a season the Premier League is 38, the A-League is 27, we are talking about a 25% - 40% reduction in matches. BUT, the big kicker for me is, the training. The training intensity in Europe (even Turkey) is much higher than the A-League, meaning that the M-F intensity is much lower than in Europe. Also, there is a five month off season, which is both a novelty and plenty of time to get yourself rested, healed and ready to go... Finally, MVFC are considered to have the best Sports Science/Medicine department in the A-League, so I'm sure they could keep him going!
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
I don't think that the Aloisi comparison is a fair one. Firstly, Aloisi did well at CCM before he went to SFC. Secondly, anybody that followed football before 2005 knows, frankly, Aloisi is a long way from the best player we've produced, and really, wasn't even the best player in that side. He was a good player who trooped around mediorce teams in big leagues, but was never a first choice at the bigger sides he played for, and the reality is that he's been trading off a penalty shoot-out coversion for the guts of six years... Guys like Harry Kewell, Mark Viduka, Tim Cahill, Craig Moore, Vince Grella, Brett Emerton and Mark Breciano have all achieved far more than John Aloisi ever did, they just weren't lucky enough to be taking that penalty...
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
Even if your calcs are wildly optimistic... you' have looked at the different facets that a "marquee" signing should be impacting, and from that perspective you're spot on. If a club assumes that a top line marquee player is worth 1-1.5m in wages just to play, then surely a 1m "bonus" for a player who will impact off the pitch positively is a pittance
Danny_Mac
Roar Guru
I don't think Harry is affiliated with Adidas anymore... I remember that he was was really keen on Nomis boots, but had to wear adidas at WC06, but was wearing the Nomis ones for training etc.
Roarchild
Guest
If my club had 2.5m to spend I'd probably rather they used it differently (i.e. locked down their future prospects for a long time). However I do hope he comes back to the league as every team would benefit.... I wouldn't begrudge whatever club (MV, SFC or Newcastle) signing him getting some special assistance.