In November of 2012 I wrote a piece titled ‘A-League doesn’t need another Kewell letdown,’ describing my distaste toward another A-League cameo for Kewell, following his departure from Melbourne Victory.
Now it is mid-2013 and my sentiments have not changed, but as a Heart supporter shouldn’t I be welcoming the arrival of King Harry? We still adore him right?
Harry Kewell had been linked with a return to the A-League for months, and most recently a harmonious marriage between Harry and the Heart looked inevitable. This too was sorrowfully not without its dramas.
Confirmation of the Kewell deal was only secured after Harry had suddenly gone missing in Portugal. While there is no certainty that he was ‘shopping around’ for one final pay cheque in Europe, sadly none one of his fans would put it past him.
This is the Harry Kewell that most of us have come to know in the twilight of his career.
After his unfortunate departure from the Melbourne Victory, Harry was always ‘close’ to securing a contract at another club. In recent times Harry has provided us with a compilation of bizarre moments and events, and over a period of time it has became somewhat laughable.
The Stoke City drama of August 2012 is just something that we have come to expect from a man well and truly deluded about his standing in the game.
Harry, once a Premier League great, was a surprise visitor at The Potter’s Clayton Wood complex.
Tony Pulis having no knowledge that the Man from Down Under was arriving could only spare a 10 minute conversation with his unwelcome guest.
A club official was quoted saying “Tony wasn’t expecting to see Harry. Whether he had his wires crossed or not, we don’t know. But the manager was happy to chat to him although rumours that he is joining us are untrue.”
This was just one of many incidents that were to come from the Kewell camp while in an extended, football wilderness.
Come 2013, enter the Middle East.
The oil rich Qatari club Al Gharafa had decided to sign Kewell on a short-term basis. How short-term do you ask?
Well in total Harry put together a total of 169 minutes of football for the Qatari club in the League, scoring once.
He made one other non-league appearance in this stint for the Middle Eastern powerhouse.
His departure from Al Gharafa was not met with much opposition from fans or officials; it was an extremely low-key exit for this footballing prima donna.
With little left in the tank, where could Harry turn to? He thought that his brief stint in the Qatari desert warranted a Socceroos call-up, in fact he was sending off a series of postcards to Holger to notify the German of his availability for the World Cup Qualifiers.
An S.O.S call for the national team did not eventuate, but instead continued talks with John Aloisi and Scott Munn landed Harry a deal with the Melbourne Heart.
After again rejecting ‘numerous’ lucrative overtures from rival clubs including the Newcastle Jets, Harry has once again decided to call Melbourne home.
So what do we make of the latest episode in the Harry Kewell saga?
Well for one, the announcement of his signing didn’t send the Twitter-sphere into overdrive nor did it generate the multitude of headlines that his arrival generated first time round. Perhaps Harry is getting a little bit rusty?
Secondly we must look at the complexities of the deal, or rather the lack of them. Harry is said to be commanding a base wage, and is well within the salary cap, a noble gesture from someone who could still be ‘playing’ in Europe.
The monetary value of this deal shows that Harry cannot command a six figure salary, he secretly realises this.
Thirdly the public is simply over the Kewell brand, the man has gone from a fan favourite to a favourite punch line in pubs. Being unemployed for a period of time is now known as ‘pulling a Harry.’
The risks aren’t very high, and this could very well work out for the Melbourne Heart, but also the rewards are no longer that lucrative. Kewell will pull a big crowd Round 1, this drawn though from his disloyalty to the Melbourne Victory, as Australians love to hate a renegade.
As a Heart supporter, I was not convinced this was the right direction for the club.
Today the club released their memberships for next season, I renewed as I love the club, I didn’t renew because the Kewell circus was coming to town.
Harry I hope you change my harsh opinion of you in your later years, but as once an adoring fan there is little to convince me to invest a red and white number 10 jersey.
David McGeoch
Guest
I think the whole premise of this article is wrong. Harry Kewell was voted in the A-League team of the year in the season he played for Melbourne Victory. He also boosted ticket sales and merchandise at the club considerably. Where was the failure there. Maybe he didn't score a goal a game, but the A-League is a much more physical league than people realise. Look at the performances of Del Piero. Give Harry Kewell a break. He has done a lot for Australian football and will no doubt contribute a lot to the A-League.
Tani
Guest
Stefanov is a harsh critic who offers many negative comments on Harry Kewell.Harry is a grand ambassador for Australian football and there is no need to b condescending when dealing with an icon of football.To reach a pinnacle in football requires many years of hard work and Harry has the mileage to this great attainment and achievement.If Stefanov can do any better let him put a pair of boots on and see if he can do any better.In the last World Cup Harry services in the team remain absolutely brilliant in our memory and the acquisition of a player of high calibre in the Socceroos will be to our advantage with a star that may gain our place in the semi-finals.Let face it,the Socceroos performance against Irag was a struggle,and in world class soccer a team needs all the incentives and skills of inspiring players, who have excellent skills.From my observation in games with Harry's participation there has always been high skills,clever footwork, brilliant penetration and superb team co-operation from Harry who has dedication to the Sport and a willingness to perservere and win.He can make a big difference against world sides in Brazil a difference where we won't struggle but perform with credibility of a team of players with a commitment to excel with proficiency,attacking football and expertise that may win a World Cup......I am here to praise Harry and to see the Socceroos reaching the semi-finals with Harry and seeing the best football in the planet in Brazil 2014.Tani
dalammardo
Roar Rookie
k.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Viduka will always be one of my favourite AUS NT players (not only because he's a lad from the western suburbs of Melbourne!). But, let's be honest. Viduka was lazy with his career &, from what I've heard, he loved the easy money more than the job - i.e. like most of us. Over a beer, I asked one of AUS highest profile football journos about Viduka. He said Mark was exceptionally talented - had every technical attribute needed to be the elite in the football world. About the time Leeds Utd was imploding & Harry left, Viduka was offered contracts by a couple of the biggest clubs in Italy & Spain (from memory Juventus, Milan and Barcelona). But, Middlesborough offered him more money, so Viduka spent the best years of his football life in the north of England. Good on him. I probably would do the same if it was "just a job" and I had no interest in "a career".
Punter
Guest
Wrong!!!! Different circumstance, Viduka had done all he wanted, decided to retire, good luck to great man. Kewell wants to play on, still good enough, even though past his peak, unfortunate the circus comes with some players, whether you like the circus or not that is your issue. But Kewell is also a great player & has a chance to go to his 3rd world cup.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
So if Victory fans don't start burning his old shirt outside his house does that mean Oz football fans lack knowledge?.I don't know if I've read your comment wrong but that's a fairly ridiculous statement.Im sure he'll get relentlessly booed like he did when he returned to Elland Road with Liverpool and that will be about it.
Franko
Guest
Thanks Mitcher, not sure if the others just skimmed or don't understand. I have not and will not ever have a go at Dukes, the guy is a champ and as much as his decision to retire should be respected, so should Kewells decision to play on – free of ridicule.
Australian Rules
Guest
You reckon I'm the naive one..? You said "Mandic structured the deal" ...mate, Mandic wasn't even an accredited agent - he failed the exam. Know what that means? It means he wasn't entitled to the 30% agents fee. So the extra money, unaccounted for, didn't go to him, it went Harry...ok then. And Liverpool denied any wrongdoing? No kidding. Sounds like you're the one who's "naive about global sporting transactions". (cringe)
Ralph Nadeer
Roar Rookie
Yes, but he's still a better player than 80% of the A-League footballers and has set himself a goal of playing in 3 world cups. He doesn't want to retire and is entitled to play on if someone wants him in their team.
Realfootball
Guest
Take your own advice. Respectfully.
Realfootball
Guest
For some, it would seem, Harry is a profit without honour in his own land. For others, he is the Messiah. The reality is more prosaic: he's just desperate. But I'm glad to have him back. He will do great things for Heart. I just hope he's fit this time. What price a Melbourne Victory number 22 shirt on Ebay?
Realfootball
Guest
I suppose that when football is all you have, you hang onto it like a drowning man to flotsam. Viduka had a brain, and he had a life that didn't depend on football. Immense respect for the player and the man. Finally, he had dignity.
Realfootball
Guest
Please, Fussball, font of all knowledge, don't hold back. HIT ME WITH THE CAPS.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
@Realfootball Whom have you spoken to at ManUtd and/or Arsenal, to suggest to us that your story is accurate? I put it to you that your hatred of Harry Kewell has been boringly consistent - as The Roar's archives will prove.
Realfootball
Guest
Those deriding the writer, some of them very unpleasantly, are simply shooting the messenger. Honestly, dalammardo, calling him a "monogloid" is crossing the line on so many levels I don't know where to start. That comment says far more about you than it says about Stefanov's perfectly reasonable right to an opinion. And I say this as one very happy to have Kewell back in the A League.
Realfootball
Guest
Sorry Mid, you're not correct on Harry and the Man U deal. It was been documented that the reason he turned Man U down was because he thought he would be playing second fiddle to Ryan Giggs. Likewise at Arsenal - that he would be playing second fiddle to Pires. The "boyhood dream" stuff re. his choice of Liverpool is romantic confabulation. There was much more too it than that.
Jon stevens
Guest
Melb Heart have a sh*tload of games Friday night free to air TV. Great signing MH. Think of the viewer numbers. Stuff the negative crap
MelbCro
Guest
"Obviously he is not at his peak, but is that his fault, we all get older and slower." Some players are smart enough to know when to retire
MelbCro
Guest
That's an absurd notion that Viduka has to give something back. Viduka retired with dignity. At the end of the day his circumstance are not even remotely similar to that of Kewell. You are making zero sense
MelbCro
Guest
"The Duke was the biggest striker i have ever seen play at the highest level and proudly i say he chose Australia over his heritage of Croatia, and dont think for one second the mother land didnt tempt him." To be fair Croatia never chased or approached Viduka. Eddie Thompson capped him very early on