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Media reports linking Harry Kewell to the Perth Glory have been prominent ever since Harry’s cheeky appearance at Melbourne’s Spring Carnival.
While enjoying the races and the carnival atmosphere, a chance meeting with the Glory owner Tony Sage once again opened the doors for Kewell to return to Australia.
Kewell failed to secure a contract in the UK, and attracted minimal attention with neighbouring European clubs upon his relocation to England.
Having been without a club for an extended period of time, Harry, like a good old racehorse, has surely run his last race?
There is little evidence to suggest that we will get a rejuvenated and reincarnated Harry. The fact that he is allegedly willing to play for under a six-figure salary is hardly inspiring sign.
Harry is once again claiming to have ‘turned the corner’, and he has ludicrously talked about making the 2014 World Cup squad for Rio.
Alessandro Del Piero he is not. He is an injury-prone former star, still revisiting memories of his Leeds United days. Harry has too often lived off his former glories, and once again the Australian football community is foolishly biting.
Harry left a bad taste in the mouths of countless Melbourne Victory and Socceroo fans with his premature departure at the end of the last A-League season, and while on the surface it was solely for family reasons, more complicated issues were brought to light.
The underwhelming start to his A-League campaign on the pitch was complemented by complications off the field.
Melbourne Victory made a significant investment in the player once known as ‘the Wizard of Oz’, and while he may have generated some nice publicity, this sadly masked the problems with his stint down under.
There were reports of him undermining Mehmet Durakovic during his tenure, and of course there were the constant, excessive off-field demands which come with the ‘Kewell brand’.
On the pitch, Harry left his run too late in the 2011/2012 season, and his start to Melbourne and A-League life was mediocre.
While some late consolation goals in the season put his name in a few newspapers, Harry was not the dominant force he was hoping to be. Even he rated his season as ‘below average.’
Another season on, with little match fitness, will his output improve?
Perth Glory are flying, and Michael Thwaite has recently stated that Harry could perhaps get a “spot on the bench” if he came back fit and firing.
This team is built around hard work. Perth’s culture is one of discipline and teamwork. The team does not need this footballing diva disrupting its harmonious locker room on and off the pitch.
At 34 years of age, with months out of the game and an injury history rivalling Dutch maestro Edgar Davids, he is just far too big a risk to take.
Harry has always publicly proclaimed his support and love for the national team, and his desire to give back to the local game, yet these words have often rung hollow.
Harry has been voted as the ‘greatest Socceroo of all-time’ by a cohort of so-called footballing experts, but he has never lived up to this hype.
Yes, Harry has had some inspirational performances for the green and gold – always impeccably timed with his pursuit for his next club or contract.
While Tim Cahill is contributing his heart and soul to the Socceroos while plying his trade in America’s MLS, Harry has been left behind in the footballing wilderness.
Perhaps we need to rethink that ‘greatest Socceroo’ title? While one player is still delivering, and is just as committed as ever, the other has been left isolated, living off his brand – a tragic end for one of our most talented players.
Perth Glory must really assess what the ‘Kewell brand’ would bring to their club. Would Harry be a re-energised, hungry and determined human being looking to finish his career on a high, cementing himself as the footballing icon who kids always looked up to?
Or would he be a washed up, once unstoppable Socceroo looking for one last payday before his brand becomes as relevant as that of Big Kev?
The A-League could use another star. A fit and firing Harry would cement the sport as the dominant summer code, but this is a high risk, high reward prospect for the FFA and Tony Sage. Tragically it may be the end for Harry.
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