One of Australia’s finest sporting exports has been the subject of much conjecture surrounding his motivation for returning to the A-League.
Before we examine an older and more mature Harry Kewell mindset, let’s analyse his new club’s big decision.
At 34 years of age, his career is coming to an end, yet the Melbourne Heart have elected one of Australia’s golden boys as skipper.
For a player with a wealth of experience on the international and UEFA Champions League stage on the surface it looks like a shrewd decision.
However, when you consider he’s only just walked in the door and been handed a leading role, it becomes an affront to the hard-working Heart players who are already assimilated into the organisation.
Simply put, Harry does not represent the ethos of the club by merely rocking up to AAMI Park.
Endearing yourself to your team takes time, however, such is the aura of the man that he’s afforded that respect automatically.
On the other hand, is it perhaps a marketing ploy?
And perhaps it’s a wise move, considering the club’s low profile and need for financial injection.
Or a clear attempt for Kewell to try and help create an identity for a club in an extremely competitive sporting market in Australia.
In what will be Kewell’s maiden season with the club it will be the first time captaining a side at club level, and the veteran is extremely ambitious about the season ahead.
“I know what I want to achieve and that’s the title,” Kewell said after the official announcement of his captaincy.
No one can blame his sentiment, regardless of whether the squad are not capable of achieving such a feat.
Kewell has big ambitions for a club that finished ninth last season.
“I know what I want to achieve and that’s the title,” Kewell told reporters.
“I dream big, I think big, so that’s what I want to achieve.”
Is he thinking nine months down the track?
The A-League has become the perfect springboard for Socceroos selection at a junior level, and it’s also now one that Holger Osieck is monitoring more than ever before.
Can you blame a man with the technical ability to fit seamlessly into the national side when fit and on form?
In his first official Heart press conference he looked trim, and spoke about how he had been working hard in his own private time.
“I feel like I’m 27 again,” Kewell said.
That comment had all the makings of a flippant remark, after all this is a man who has endured a series of debilitating injuries during his career.
But the vibrancy he emitted was in itself more than enough to suggest that this was potentially the makings of a rejuvenated man who has unfinished business.
The talk of pursuing another birth at Rio 2014 was naturally the main focus when he walked through the door at AAMI Park in early July.
Kewell was coy when questions were aimed at him about a coveted position in the national team.
“First and foremost I want to play good football for the Melbourne Heart,” he said then.
Fast-forward two months and Kewell was playing a distinctly different stance, admitting he wanted to give himself every opportunity to claim a spot in Osieck’s squad before June next year.
Now, one must ask if that was the primary reason for signing on with the Melbourne Heart.
The simple answer would now appear to be a resounding ‘yes’, so what does implications does that have on the club?
If things go pear-shaped and Kewell’s form is sluggish midway through the A-League term, will that affect the Heart’s overall team play?
Can Heart fans actually expect to see a team player on the pitch or someone playing with a degree of selfishness, fuelled by a personal ambition?
The proof will be in the pudding soon enough.
Now, all Kewell has to do is construct the perfect balancing act that will allow the former Leeds and Liverpool star to appease his employers and the Australian public.
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
"I feel like im 27 again",i sincerely hope not HK I think you'll find you was spending a lot of time on the treatment table at that age!
Brick Tamlin of the Pants Party
Guest
Kewell hasn't really played as a winger for club or country for years though he occasionally still flirts with the touchline,plays more behind the strikers or as a striker.Kewell and Oar could definatley play in the same side and and swap with each other playing out wide or more central.Remember Oar is used in the middle for Ultrecht and is has been very effective there.
baanskis
Guest
Dude, the current squad is crap. We know this.
Sledgeross
Roar Rookie
Fact remains he hasnt been in elite level form for 12+ years. Still a skillful player, but people seem to think he can reproduce his feats for Leeds United as a 19 year old, he hasnt come close for a long time. Unfair burden on him.
Bribieboy
Guest
Are you happy with the form ot the current squad ?
Bribieboy
Guest
I agree with you Steve, Before the armchair critics write him off lets see how he goes. As you said apart from Cahill who else is automatic selection. If Del Piero was Australian he would be the first picked for Brazil and he is 38. I am not comparing them. I hope Holger picks the team on present form and not of yesteryear but our oldies maybe mentally strong and still skilled but far too slow for international football. He must give Langerak, Ryan, Oar, Kruse, and a few of the other youth a chance.
Kane Cassidy
Roar Guru
It's not the first time they've handed the captaincy to an incomming player, they did it with Fred too, coincidentally another former Victory player.
Realfootbal
Guest
He was 2 very significant years younger when he was with MV. It will be a personal triumph for him if he can reach that level again at 34 with a year layoff in between. The stats are against him, but he has been a remarkable player. He was a peripheral figure against Brisbane at Lismore a couple of weeks ago. Broich, for example, was markedly more effective. Good luck to him. I would like nothing more than to see Harry have stellar season for Heart this year.
Australian Rules
Guest
No doubt Harry's our best ever Socceroo. But for a 34y.o who has played as little club football as what he has over the past 3 years, if he were called up, it would hardly be a ringing endorsement of the current squad.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
Spot on Scott, nail, head.
scott
Guest
At his best harry was world class. Having played for Leeds at their peak, Liverpool and Gala he’s played at the very highest level in Europe. He reached this level because he was both supremely gifted and willing to work hard on the training ground to make the most of his natural ability. If he was still the player he was when he was playing in Europe then he wouldn’t be back in the A-League. At A-league level his great touch and technique alone would make him a solid A-league player. If he’s able to combine his natural ability with a high fitness level then he has the potential to be one of the best players in the A-league. At the very least, because of his experience’s, he’ll provide an excellent role-model for his team-mates on how to remain focused and professional and deliver at a high level.
gawa
Guest
If he stays free of any serious injury and still wants to play I don't see anything stopping Kewell playing in the A League for another few years. He has more than enough tricks and vision to adapt his game while the pace diminishes.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I haven't seen a lot of Kewell in recent years but for me he looked absolutely tremendous in his younger days. I used to watch a lot of Brian Laudrup and whilst some might snigger at the comparison I actually think Kewell had a lot of the same technique and had huge potential. Injuries have taken their toll for sure but that technique and technical ability will still be there and if he's as good as I think he is he'll adapt to the loss in pace the same way that greats like Del Piero and Giggs have done. I'm not putting Kewell in the same category as those two as he's not done nearly as much in the game but he's still a quality player at A League level. The sheer number of injuries he's sustained however mean he's a much older 34 year old than say Beckham or Giggs were at the same age. If I did have a criticism of Kewell in his EPL days it was that he never seemed to 'want it' enough or show enough ticker for me but I might be wrong on that. Certainly when I've seen him play for Oz he's looked committed enough. He also offers a wealth of experience which many managers such as Mourinho and Ferguson put huge stock on. They've always kept in a couple of players well in to their 30s, Makelele, Scholes, Giggs for that very reason. I think discarding Kewell when he still has something to offer is a little premature, granted I've not seen a huge amount of him lately.
Towser
Guest
Australian Rules First on John Aloisi. Totally unproven Manager so far,. He may yet prove to be so, calling him a manager after last season is a stretch. On Harry,if he goes to the World cup he will have proven he deserves to be there.it says zilch about the state of the team. Forget age Harry is a cut above any Australian player ever produced except Viduka & if he finds the form he was producing towards the end at Victory any Socceroo coach would be negligent in leaving him out.
nachos supreme
Guest
Play HK at left back ;) Couldn't be any worse than the other hacks that have been playing there since Chippers vacated...
Stratty
Guest
I agree apaway. If Harry can beat a player and whip the crosses in for a Cahill, Kennedy, then pick him for the WC. I thought his year with the MV was excellent, if he's good enough, pick him!
terry
Guest
You would love to have a player with as much experience as Kewell in your side let alone captain it. I think JA has made a great choice selecting Harry as captain and let`s hope we see him back in the green and gold soon.
Stevo
Guest
LOL, volumes have already been spoken about the state of our team for Rio that's why a fit Harry would be a dead set cert to be on the plane for Brazil :)
danno
Guest
Exactly. I don't think there could be a better super sub than a fit and in-form harry kewell; even if he's 34.
Australian Rules
Guest
Despite a difficult first year in charge, I rate John Aloisi as a Manager and hope he'll be a stalwart in the years to come. Without knowing the exact motivation for Harry returning, I strongly doubt JA would have made Kewell captain if there's was any doubt that HK was 100% focussed on club success. As for whether HK should/could regain a spot in the Socceroos, geez I would hope not. He's been a fantastic servant of our national team, but if Harry was able to walk back in, it would speak volumes about the state of our team going to Rio.