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
The Cattery
Roar Guru
Harry has already done what he needs to do. Football clubs sell hope to fans - that is their primary currency - excited fans make for happy football clubs. Harry has always been that little bit special. As a 19 year old, he scored in both legs against Iran in 1997 ( I can't recall any 19 year old since that has been able to make such a splash). In 2001, first time round against Uruguay, and he is already a bona fide champ as a 23 year old - the only socceroo travelling first class.
Timmypig
Guest
I'm willing to play Devil's advocate .... What if Harry doesn't live up to expectations on the field? He was a 'flag bearer' for all the young-ish Australians who picked up British and European contracts in the mid-1990s (remember how O'Leary was such a 'bogey man' back then for Australians?) But as great as we all claimed him to be, he was barely acknowledged outside the Premier League (& Aus); the most common reaction beyond Aus & the Premier League was "Harry Who?" Don't get me wrong - I admire what he's done as a footballer. Few others could create headlines in Australia as he could, when the sport needed headlines (for the right reasons). He has done things on the pitch that I could never have done, so I'm not about to criticise the bloke. But can we please get some perspective .... ? Cast your minds back, gents, back to the A League Grand Final. How good was that? Surely the excitement and drama of that single game should be the reason the MILLIONS of kids and young adults who have played football in Australia should be wanting to watch on TV, or go to a game .... ? Please let's not get overwhelmed by admiration for a single bloke - however admirable his achievements are - in place of football itself.
Midfielder
Guest
Das ... Excellent ... also ... You can't stop our Harry Nobody cab stop our Harry It's the way he plays Its the way he scores You can't stop our Harry Nobody can stop our Harry [from the Village people .. You Can't stop the Music]
dasilva
Guest
This all I can think of The fans were wondering "Harry won't you please come home? We don't know where you've been. Harry won't you please come home? The stadium is empty and no one's in it. Oh Harry, how we miss you, You are all the world to us. Take a look and see if you like it, If you like it please come back. " (variation of Rosey won't you please come home by the Kinks) However looks like he taken a look and he like it and he's coming back home to Australia,. I can't wait until he comes down to hindmarsh where I'll be "Lazing on a sunny afternoon, in the summertime" watching him play. Hope that H. Kewell will prove those cynics who "can't get no satisfaction" that believed that Kewell is "yesterday's paper, nobody in the world wants" wrong. If H. kewell stays injury free and performs well it'll be the "golden years" of the A-league.
Midfielder
Guest
Harry regardless of injuries, poor form & whatever his attitude may be, ,has been one of those players who can cause consternation in the opposition. This alone makes him practically worth his weight in gold & it is not only the fear & confusion he creates around himself but the knock-on effect that has in the defence & general play of any team he faces that makes him such an asset. Aftering putting himself in the shop window as it were, because finally could no longer justify himself in a top European club, ………….BUT,…………………. remember that Harry is also the player who has been picked to start in Champions League finals …………after long term injuries/absences precisely because of the magic he brings. Form does not always indicate what may happen next, thus we are in the position that so many defenders have been, nor sure what he might do but we’re hoping it is great at MV and for Australia. Some song titles that may some up my feelings: Can you feel it. Come feel the noze. Our day has come. Can’t stop loving you. The times are a changing Catch the wind. I believe. May it be. Universal Solider , I can hear music. Everybody’s talking Imagine Working class hero. Sweet Dreams are made of this. Add more please….
Banger
Guest
First of all great to see Harry back in the A-league, and I hope he manages a couple of injury free seasons. But looking from another angle, I wonder if MV will have to shed any players before the season starts. They must be sailing very close to the salary cap limit
dasilva
Guest
Welcome home Harry . I'm excited to go to hindmarsh (or Adelaide Oval) to see Adelaide United flog your team Although admittingly, MV may well become my second team and I may support MV against the other A-league side as H. Kewell transcend even traditional rivalry.
dasilva
Guest
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.
Axelv
Guest
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 :D , 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.
Cpaaa
Guest
Welcome home Harry. We loves U. Though imagine how much better you would have looked in a sky blue shirt. Best news ill hear pre season, thats unless if Tim Cahill comes to SFC. So tempted to get Fox now.
Geordie
Guest
"H is held in the highest regard by every Australian pro-footballer – past and present." .........except for Robbie Slater.
Mahony
Guest
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......
gawa
Guest
you really do have the ability to find the negative.
Ka-Blonk
Guest
You dreamer AL.
Ka-Blonk
Guest
The Heart will be lucky to see out the season. Any 'Victory Haters' left are small in number.
Plonker
Guest
Actually, I live in Victory City! Sydney has really gone to pot since the 2000 games. Does anyone up there actually do anything other than do Charlie and say they are NRL fans but refuse to attend?
Rusty0256
Guest
Get your ticket early; gunna be a full house!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
A very insightful article, which provides some context to the way the deal evolved: http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Sport/2011/08/20/How_Harry_got_to_the_A-League_652426.html Interestingly, the story appears on the Telstra website - and, the FFA's major partner is Optus. Harry certainly has a unique ability to break down all sorts of potential biases and barriers - everyone is going to want a piece of our lad, H.
Karmikel Funk
Roar Rookie
Ha, you probably don't even live in Sydney Plonker, but nice try.
jamesb
Guest
its great to have harry play in the HAL. I hope he has an enjoyable 3 years. Even though Harry will be in the HAL, i still think he as much to offer with the NT. If he plays on till 2014, i still think he can contribute with the socceroos side. Hopefully by then someone else takes over the mantle from Harry.