Meet The Players

Harold (Harry) Kewell (born 22 September 1978 in Smithfield, New South Wales), is an Australian football (soccer) player who currently plays for Liverpool FC in the English Premier League. An exceptional dribbler on the wing also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder and as a second striker, he is often regarded within the media as "Australia's finest football export", despite his career being blighted with injury. Against Croatia he scored the crucial goal to get Australia through to the knockout stages of the 2006 World Cup. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Australian Professional Footballers' Association.[1]

Over the past few seasons Harry has struggled greatly with injuries; despite this manager Rafa Benitez has kept faith in the Aussie winger and kept him in the Liverpool Senior Squad.

[edit] Early life

Raised in the suburb of Smithfield located in Sydney's south west by parents Rod and Helen, Kewell received his early schooling at Smithfield Public School and secondary schooling at St. Johns Park High School before transferring to the newly instituted Westfield Sports High School on a footballing scholarship.

[edit] Fast Facts

Westfields Sports High School is a government funded public school open to both local students and scholarship receipients it was the first sport high school of its type in NSW. The scholarship programe, open to all sporting disciplines, first began in 1993 and was the first of it's type in Australia. In order to receive a scholarship, a prospective student must either apply or receive an offer to reply. Then a series of trials are held over a scheduled period after which time the successful or unseccessful candidates are notified by mail. There are core academic, physical and technical requirements that must be adheared to and successfully completed in order for the student to continue within the program.

During his time at Westfields Sports High School Harry played at representative level for both school, for many years playing an age above his proper age grouping in order to compete a higher level of competition.. Harry played in the New South Wales Youth League representative team, for the famous Marconi Soccer club from under 13's to under 15's coached by Stephen Treloar. Harry attended sessions at the NSW Soccer Academy headed by David Lee (now retired) and received specialised coaching from Oscar Gonzales, as assistant of the Academy and is the place where Harry honed his individual ball skills. Oscar was also called upon in early part of Harrys English career to assist with refining some of his skills.

[edit] Big Break

At the tender age of 15, David Lee offered the already football-savvy Kewell the opportunity to travel to England and trial with English Premiership football club Leeds United for a period of four weeks. This opportunity was possible as a result of the 'Big Brother Programme' first developed at Westfields Sports High School to reward the most outstanding player each year. Kewell was successful during the four week trial and was offered a contract by Leeds, possible due to his father's English heritage which would help overcome the strict visa requirements.

[edit] Club career

[edit] Leeds United (1995-2003)

Kewell made his Leeds United debut as a 17-year-old on 30 March 1996 in a 1-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough. Kewell made his Australia debut in April 1996 in 3-0 defeat by Chile. The first goal he scored for Leeds came some time later, in October 1997, in a 3-1 League Cup victory over Stoke City.

He was sent off in Leeds United-Galatasaray UEFA Cup 1999-00 semi-final match. Playing mostly in a left midfield role and in attack, Kewell became one of Leeds' young stars in a troop of highly promising youngsters, eventually forming a striking partnership with fellow Australian Mark Viduka. The high point of this period was when they helped Leeds to the semi-final of the UEFA Champions League in 2000-01. However, the club began to suffer financial difficulties and, by 2002-03, having sold many of their best players, Kewell and Viduka's efforts in front of goal merely prevented Leeds' slide from being relegated from the Premiership.

Kewell left Leeds under acrimonious circumstances. In an infamous interview given to the BBC shortly before his move to Liverpool, Kewell lashed out against the staff at the club, stating that the medical staff worsened his injuries and that his teammates had ostracized him.[2]

[edit] Liverpool (2003-present)

Kewell moved to Liverpool for the start of the 2003-04 season, reportedly snubbing an offer from Manchester United. Kewell had been offered higher wages and champions league football from some of Europe's biggest clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United as well as AC Milan, FC Barcelona and Real Madrid but eventually chose Liverpool, the club he followed as a boy. Kewell's transfer was highly controversial because it was alleged that a significant portion (£2m of the £5m) went to Kewell's unregistered agent, Bernie Mandic to ensure that he ended up at Anfield. In a related matter, Kewell sued Gary Lineker in 2005 for defamation of character, but, with the jury unable to agree on a verdict, the parties had to settle out of court.

On 25 May 2005, Kewell became the only Australian-born player (Craig Johnston was born in South Africa) to win the UEFA Champions League, playing in Liverpool's win over A.C. Milan on penalties. Kewell was controversially selected by Benítez ahead of the defensive midfielder Dietmar Hamann, signalling the club's intent to attack from the outset. The gamble proved unsuccessful, and an injured Kewell was substituted early in the first half with a torn adductor muscle. Liverpool were losing 1-0 at the time and Kewell was infamously booed off the pitch by Liverpool fans with many suggesting he had faked the injury.

In November 2005, after recovering from the injury sustained during the final, Kewell spoke to the Liverpool FC official website, saying that he had a strong desire to repay his manager Rafael Benitez for showing confidence in him by fielding him in the Champions League Final. He also thanked his wife and friends for the support shown to him while he recovered from injury. He also re-stated the severity of the injury which had forced him off in the Final and told his doubters that they were misguided to question the severity of his injury.

Kewell's form for Liverpool in the 2005-06 English Premier League season showed what he was truly capable of, scoring goals and plenty of assists, lending support to his assertion that his prior mediocre performance was the result of poor health rather than apathy. Kewell scored his first league goal at Anfield in over 2 years when Liverpool beat Spurs 1-0 in January, he was also the only scorer when Liverpool beat Man City 1-0 at Anfield and scored the last goal in a 3-1 win over Everton in one of his best displays of the season. Kewell was also one of Liverpool's best performers in the FA Cup semi final win over Chelsea which Liverpool won 2-1.

Kewell played in the 2005-06 FA Cup Final, only to be substituted in the 48th minute due to abdominal pains (the supporters reaction this time was more sympathetic compared to the previous years champions league final). It was later confirmed by Liverpool that he had torn a groin muscle, but was expected to be fit for the World Cup.

On April 30, 2007 Kewell made his comeback from almost a year out of club football. He came on as a 55th minute substitute for Liverpool F.C. Reserves in a 'mini-derby' against Everton F.C. Reserves. On May 5, 2007, he came on as a substitute in the second half of Liverpool's match against Fulham at Craven Cottage, having not played for Liverpool since his substition in 2005-06 FA Cup Final. On May 13th 2007, Harry came on as substitute in the second half against Charlton in the last game of the Premiership. Speculation on whether he was to be selected in Liverpool's upcoming Champions League Final in Athens rapidly became positive for Kewell after providing an excellent game against Charlton. Harry provided a cross in for Dirk Kuyt to assist towards a Xabi Alonso goal and then scored a penalty on the 90th minute.[3] He played in the Champions league Final in Athens, coming on as a second half substitute for Bolo Zenden.

Kewell was injured for the start of the 2007-08 season, he faces an uncertain future at Liverpool having suffered yet another injury, which has sidelined him for the first month of the Premier League season. Kewell returned as a substitute in Liverpool's Carling Cup victory over Cardiff City F.C. on October 31, coming on in the 71st minute. He has since come on as a substitute in the Premier League and UEFA Champions League against Blackburn and Besiktas respectively. After his return Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez stated on the club's website and to other members of the media that a new contract for Harry to continue his career at Anfield is not out of the question. Many believe that if Kewell can stay injury free until the seasons end he will be offered the chance to remain with the club. Kewell himself has often stated his desire to end his English Premier League Career with the club before returning to Australia to end his career along with fellow English-based Australians Tim Cahill, Lucas Neill and Brett Emerton in the Australian domestic competition- The A-League.

His first goal this season was for the reserve Liverpool team, in their 2-0 win over Manchester United. Because of recent injuries, he fuiture at liverpool is uncertain, and it is possible he could be linked with several team in the Coca Cola League 1 or the Hundaii A-League in Australia.

[edit] International career

King Harry, on The West Australian newspaper

Kewell became the youngest player to début for the Australia national team when he played against Chile in April 1996, aged 17 years and 7 months.[4][5] In November 1997, Kewell was selected to play for Australia in the country's World Cup qualifying game against Iran. At the Azadi Stadium in Tehran, in front of an estimated crowd of 120,000, Kewell scored his first ever goal for his country and gave Australia a 1-0 lead. Iran eventually drew level and the game resulted in a 1-1 draw, which set up a tense return game in Melbourne.

A then-record crowd for Australian football of 85,000 - at the Melbourne Cricket Ground - witnessed the second leg of this World Cup qualifier against Iran, as well as Kewell's second goal. The Socceroos eventually stretched their lead to two goals but Iran fought back and scored two vital away goals to finish the game 2-2 and qualify for the 1998 World Cup in France.

[edit] World Cup 2006

In November 2005, Australia qualified for the 2006 FIFA World Cup taking place in Germany. It was the first time Australia had qualified for the World Cup since 1974 when it was held in West Germany. To reach the World Cup Australia beat Uruguay in a two-legged play-off. Kewell was considered instrumental in the Socceroos' defeat of Uruguay, turning the course of the match when he entered as a substitute. He scored the first penalty for Australia in the deciding penalty shoot-out, which they went on to win 4-2.

Kewell played in Australia's opening game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup against Japan in Germany. He did not start for Australia in their second group match against Brazil but again entered as a substitute, missing an early opportunity when Dida punched the ball out dangerously. Kewell was reported to FIFA by referee Markus Merk for verbal abuse after the match but he escaped being sanctioned.

In the Croatia vs Australia game Kewell scored Australia's second goal to equal the score at 2-2. Australia only needed a draw to qualify for the second round for the first time. He was also awarded Man of the Match, which made him Australia's second Man of the Match at a World Cup after Tim Cahill who had won an award earlier in the tournament.

Due to suspected gout,[6][7] (later diagnosed as septic arthritis — a bacterial infection in the joints of his left foot) Kewell was unable to play against Italy in the knockout stage, which saw Australia eliminated from the World Cup.

[edit] Asian Cup 2007

Kewell did not play for the national team for a year following the World Cup, and made his national-team comeback in a friendly against Singapore in late June 2007. The match was Australia's last before the Asian Cup and Kewell came on as a substitute in the 65th minute, and went on to score his eighth international goal and provide a cross for the final goal in a 3-0 victory.[8][9] Kewell was a key part of the Australian squad for the Asian Cup. Kewell scored his 9th international goal for Australia, scoring the 4th goal in a 4-0 victory over Thailand in the Asian Cup.[10] After the group stage, in a quarter-final against Japan, Kewell was sent on to the pitch to replace Mark Viduka in the 61st minute, in a 1-1 draw. A penalty shootout was required to break the deadlock and Kewell's first penalty shot for Australia was stopped. Australia ultimately lost the shootout and was eliminated from the Asian Cup.[11]