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.
Evan Askew
Guest
Lol.
always right
Guest
You sound like a disgruntled Victory fan. The easy answer to the "two teams in melbourne problem" is getting rid of Victory. After all, aren't we 3-1 up in the derby count...? Maybe Victory should move to the northern suburbs. That way, they'll be closer to Broadmeadows, and its supporters won't have to travel too far to the Magistrates Court.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Totally agree. Every club needs "a reason" - "a story" to entice fans. It was much easier for the 8 formation clubs - the story was "your city, your club". WSW has a distinct story - from my limited time in Sydney, I've got the impression people from the Western Suburbs have a bond that differentiates them from the rest of Sydney. In Melbourne we needed: MVFC for Melbourne; the next club should have been a club for the Geelong/Western Districts region; and another club for the Mornington Peninsula/expanding eastern suburbs of Melbourne. MHT has its HQ 20kms north of the CBD so, let's hope they eventually create an identity out there.
jamesb
Guest
Fuss We need a strong Melbourne Heart certainly for the benefit of the A-league. I come from the South Coast. Now with heart averaging 8000, I get the feeling a regional team like South Coast would get similar average crowds, if not better. As you say Fuss if its more difficult to spot a Melbourne Heart fan, than maybe give other areas like South Coast a go!
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
If only Melbourne Heart fans were as passionate about their team - when sitting in the stands - as they are when they're sitting at their keyboard. In Melbourne, it's more difficult to spot a Melbourne Heart fan, than it is for the good folk of the Scottish Highlands to spot that aquatic creature in Loch Ness. A mate of mine thought he sighted one a few months ago ... but, it turned out to be an Olympiakos fan. :-D
Minister for Information for the Democratic People's Republic of Football
Guest
Nathan of Perth is a very funny guy. But that's clearly wasted on you my friend.
Always Right
Guest
Dear Stefanov, I am grossly overwhelmed by this article. It is obvious you are a big fan of Tim Cahill, and have clearly put Mr Kewell to roast, despite him clearly being a far superior being to the before mentioned New York Red Buller. If Mr Cahill was to be the greatest socceroo, he would have hopped on a plane to Australia, not the USA, where he is being remunerated far too much. This is a genuine celebration of mediocrity at its finest. Any player who puts on a Melbourne Victory shirt is doomed for failure. Mr Kewell was no exception. Should he have worn the proud red and white stripes of Heart, he would have succeeded. In a team still under the dictatorship of K Muscat (note, no use of "Mr" in front of his name), there is little room for Harry to shine. Of important mention also is the fact that before the 2010 World Cup, Harry was shining in the Turkish league. The doctors at Galatasaray, however, took out his groin stitches far too early, and his lateral movement was never the same. Perth Glory's doctors can fix this. Don't ride him off. Go HEART!
Punter
Guest
Liam Miller is a great player, very impress with him.
Punter
Guest
Love him or hate him. Aging genius or overated talent. One thing is certain he graps a headline.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Liam Miller was good last year (had a cracker of a goal against Adelaide last year) but has definitely gone up a notch this year. Provides a lot of flexibility to the side.
Peter Wilson
Roar Guru
Nathan very impressed with Liam Miller and his long range missiles. He has a very good short game too. Top player. Harry Kewell? Remember the 6 months of banter before Harry actually signed anything with MVFC? He only signed because he had nowhere else to go. He has nowhere to go now either, so will depend on his desire to play football for Australia again and the demands of the A-League and its expectant fans. Heskey and ADP had better offers to play elsewhere, but chose to play in Australia to make a difference. Some of our ex-Aussies who have turned on the A-League and labelled it a backwards step should be ashamed and don't appreciate what they can do for the game here.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Nagai has some muscle problems but should be back soon. Thankfully, we're starting to see a few more youthful faces popping up. It does make you wish for the larger bench, so you could fit some more of these youngsters in when a game is no longer in the balance!
JohnB
Guest
A fanatical devotion to The Shed as a chief weapon causes parents with very young families to stay away in droves.
JohnB
Guest
Glory's squad is probably too big as it is. When will the Japanese guy get a run? Ferguson has some talented youth in the squad (if they ever get the chance) and an aging injury prone Harry K would just cause Sage to lose even more money than he is now.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"This team is built around hard work. Perth’s culture is one of discipline and teamwork." "Our chief weapons are hard work! Hard work and a lot of discipline ... uh, our TWO chief weapons are hard work and discipline..." "And a fanatical devotion to the Shed!" "Right, right, our THREE chief weapons are hard work, discipline, a fanatical devotion to the Shed and artillery long passes ... I mean FOUR chief ... you know, let's just try this again"
Bludger
Guest
Fussiballs, really, why am I not surprised you would play the contrarian role on this topic? For what it matters, he is not welcome back to MVFC actually. Ang P said so recently. He has left every club he has played for on bad terms. He was booed at Liverpool, at Leeds and Victory would now too. Personally, I would like to see him come back and do well but you just know he will be too difficult to handle so why bother disrupting everything? The A-League is a serious league, not just for cameo performances like the old NSL. If he wants to play, why can't he sign up for a division 4 side like Torquay United or Tranmere Rovers. Even the Scottish league has a few leagues he could get a game. Give Rangers a bell, they would take anyone nowadays.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@ Nathan Like the good townsfolk in the story of "The Boy Who Cried Wolf", alas, I have no time for most of the AUS sporting media any more. In my opinion, they are all no better than gossip-columnists.
AVictory
Guest
Ante Covic, Carlos Hernandez. Milligan when he did come in and Archie was in great form for the entire season, despite his goal scoring wobblies in the later half he was still creating goals. Rest of the team however...don't have much to say about them last season.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Re # 1 - interestingly, a pundit on 6PR this morning claimed to have written proof that the "lack of interest" denial is a complete lie - i.e., he has written proof of interest from the Kewell camp. For whatever reason, nothing is ever straight forward around this guy!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"increased leverage in disupte with Tanna over stadium rights, that is, “looks like I will really have to go to another stadium now Nic…….” " Now THAT is an interesting thought