Kewell signed a three-year contract with A-League club Melbourne Victory in 2011 and declared: “I am proud to be Australian and want to give something back to the game. It has always been my ambition to play in my home country.” Kewell's first season playing in the country of his birth was successful in that he scored eight times for Melbourne in 25 league matches. Sadly Kewell was forced to return to England after one year in Australia because the mother of his wife, Sheree Murphy, was seriously ill. "It was one of the toughest decisions we've had to make," Kewell said in a statement. "I enjoyed playing for Victory and living in Melbourne, but family comes first and together we made a decision that it was best for us to remain close to our family at this time." On 12 July 2012, Harry Kewell was named Australia's greatest football player voted by Australian fans, players and media. Kewell had a short spell in 2013 at UAE Pro League club Al Gharafa where he played just three games. In June he signed for A-League club Melbourne Heart, returning to Melbourne but with a rival to his former club, Victory.
Towards the end of March 2013 Kewell announced that he would be retiring as a player after Melbourne Heart's match against the Western Sydney Wanderers in the middle of April. Afetr spending a year coaching with his academies in Australia and gaining his official badges, he returned to England in 2015 to coach Watford U-21s. After two years there he took over as manager at League Two Crawley Town, resigning from there on 31st August 2018 to take charge at Notts County.
Season | League | FA | LC | Europe | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals | 93 | 10 | 5 | 30 | 1 | 139 |
2003-2004 | 36 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 49 |
2004-2005 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 31 |
2005-2006 | 27 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 41 |
2006-2007 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
2007-2008 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
Apps | Minutes | Opponent |
---|---|---|
9 | 547 | Chelsea |
7 | 517 | Portsmouth |
6 | 498 | Manchester United |
6 | 480 | Newcastle United |
6 | 448 | Arsenal |
6 | 439 | Manchester City |
6 | 432 | Bolton Wanderers |
6 | 419 | Charlton Athletic |
6 | 418 | Aston Villa |
6 | 307 | Blackburn Rovers |
5 | 443 | Middlesbrough |
5 | 437 | Everton |
5 | 428 | Birmingham City |
5 | 344 | Fulham |
4 | 360 | Tottenham |
3 | 238 | Marseille |
3 | 227 | Wigan Athletic |
3 | 225 | WBA |
2 | 180 | Leicester City |
2 | 180 | Steaua Bucharest |
2 | 180 | Olimpija |
2 | 177 | Leeds United |
2 | 165 | Levski Sofia |
2 | 155 | Crystal Palace |
2 | 153 | Benfica |
2 | 151 | Wolves |
2 | 148 | Grazer AK |
2 | 134 | Olympiacos |
2 | 109 | West Ham United |
2 | 108 | AS Monaco |
2 | 81 | Deportivo |
2 | 54 | AC Milan |
2 | 26 | Anderlecht |
1 | 90 | Yeovil Town |
1 | 90 | Southampton |
1 | 90 | Luton Town |
1 | 90 | Sao Paolo |
1 | 76 | Leverkusen |
1 | 30 | Sunderland |
1 | 30 | Reading |
1 | 27 | Porto |
1 | 20 | Barnsley |
1 | 19 | Cardiff City |
1 | 18 | Besiktas |
1 | 7 | Real Betis |
Total | Started/substitutions |
---|---|
109 | Started |
3 | On the bench |
30 | Substitute |
45 | Substituted |
Total | Venue |
---|---|
67 | Home |
66 | Away |
6 | Neutral |
Total | Competition |
---|---|
93 | Premier League |
22 | Champions League |
10 | FA Cup |
8 | UEFA Cup |
5 | League Cup |
1 | World Club Championship |
Total | W | D | L | Win % | Manager |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
90 | 48 | 17 | 25 | 53.3% | Rafa Benítez |
49 | 23 | 15 | 11 | 46.9% | Gérard Houllier |
Season | League | FA | LC | Europe | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals | 12 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 16 |
2003-2004 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
2004-2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2005-2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
2006-2007 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
2007-2008 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | Opponent |
---|---|
2 | Blackburn Rovers |
2 | Everton |
2 | Tottenham |
1 | Olimpija |
1 | Steaua Bucharest |
1 | Levski Sofia |
1 | Arsenal |
1 | Birmingham City |
1 | Aston Villa |
1 | Charlton Athletic |
1 | Manchester United |
1 | Leeds United |
1 | Manchester City |
Total | Started/substitutions |
---|---|
14 | Started |
2 | Substitute |
Total | Competition |
---|---|
12 | Premier League |
3 | UEFA Cup |
1 | League Cup |
Total | Goal minute period |
---|---|
1 | 1-15 minutes |
2 | 16-30 minutes |
1 | 31-45 minutes |
3 | 46-60 minutes |
4 | 61-75 minutes |
5 | 76-90 minutes |
Total | Goal origin |
---|---|
15 | Open play |
1 | Penalty |
Season | League | FA | LC | Europe | Other | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Totals | 9 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 16 |
2003-2004 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
2004-2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
2005-2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
2006-2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2007-2008 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
Total | Opponent |
---|---|
2 | Newcastle United |
2 | Everton |
2 | Marseille |
1 | Levski Sofia |
1 | Grazer AK |
1 | West Bromwich Albion |
1 | Anderlecht |
1 | Crystal Palace |
1 | Olympiacos |
1 | Porto |
1 | Blackburn Rovers |
1 | Portsmouth |
1 | Charlton Athletic |
Total | Competition |
---|---|
9 | Premier League |
6 | Champions League |
1 | UEFA Cup |
Total | For player |
---|---|
3 | Michael Owen |
2 | Milan Baros |
2 | Djibril Cissé |
2 | Peter Crouch |
2 | Fernando Torres |
1 | Yossi Benayoun |
1 | Dirk Kuyt |
1 | Steven Gerrard |
1 | Vladimir Smicer |
1 | Florent Sinama-Pongolle |
# | Date | Against | Stadium | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 17.08.2003 | Chelsea | Anfield | League |
50 | 10.08.2004 | Grazer AK | Arnold S. Stadion | Europe |
100 | 29.01.2006 | Portsmouth | Fratton Park | FA Cup |
# | Minute | Date | Against | Stadium | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 79 | 30.08.2003 | Everton | Goodison Park | League |
By Kristian Walsh on 13 OCTOBER 2018.
The Telegraph report on Liverpool - Chelsea on 17.08.2003.
Match report from The Telegraph on Leeds United - Liverpool on 12.04.1999.
Match report from The Guardian on Chelsea - Liverpool from 22.04.2006.
Match report from 31.12.2005 on Liverpool - WBA from The Guardian.
An article by Oliver Kay from the Australian on 27.06.2005.
"Harry Kewell is a great signing for the Reds - a very versatile footballer, who can play in several positions. He is a proven goal-scorer - a class act & he could become another Ray Kennedy - ghosting in to score vital goals."
Alan Kennedy
"Things haven't gone as well as I had hoped but I think I've made a contribution in my 18 months. I'm my own biggest critic and I don't need people to tell me when I'm playing well and when I'm not because I know and tell myself.
"I don't think I hide from my bad games but, at the end of the day, everyone has them from time to time. I'm still feeling the injury to my abductor at the moment. It's giving me a bit of grief and I could probably have done with a little bit longer to get over it completely. I'm not a player who has been injured regularly but I can't remember the last time I went into a game not feeling a strain somewhere on my body. It's not just me. I'd be surprised if anyone goes out 100 per cent fit because there are always knocks and niggles.
"But the competition for places is so tough that everyone knows you could be one match away from the bench. That is pressure. That level of fear brings the best out of people and I hope it's true of me."
Kewell in November 2004
"One day Harry is okay, and the next he says he is unfit. We don't know exactly what the problem is. It changes each day. One day he says it's the groin, then it's ankle. Another day he says he can play."
Harry Kewell's injuries puzzles Benítez - from March 2005
"I'm delighted I'm playing again so I can concentrate on football. I'm enjoying my football again, which is the main thing. I owe a lot to the manager for sticking by me when everyone else was giving me stick. I want to pay him back for that. The Liverpool fans have probably been the most frustrated with me and I want to pay them back as well, so it's great to hear them behind me."
Harry Kewell on his way back to his best in the 2005-2006 season
"We've spoken about the wide areas and how we need players who can beat defenders, and Harry can do that. Sometimes you don't know how difficult it is for a player who wants to play but is still injured. He tries, though sometimes it's difficult to believe because you just never know [whether he is fit]. In Harry's case I think he had bad advisers around him. Now he's focused on his game and that's best for him and us. I always had faith in him. It's just good to see him working really hard.
The first time I saw Harry play was with Leeds against Manchester United against Jaap Stam. He played really well. He's the kind of player you need as a manager, the kind you want to sign. But he's had injuries, problems, and we were disappointed. Now we've supported him, given him confidence, and he's giving us crosses and dribbles."
Rafa of the improved Harry Kewell of 2005-2006 season
"We had spoken about bringing in players who would have the fans on the edge of their seats and I can't think of a better description for the qualities that Harry will bring to Anfield. When you consider the calibre of rival clubs from all over Europe competing for his signature, it's a huge boost for us ahead of the new campaign and an indication of Harry's belief in what we want to achieve here. We have worked very hard to bring the player here against intense competition and I want to pay tribute to David Moores, Rick Parry and the board for their efforts. Like them, I could not be more delighted at the successful outcome."
Houllier on Kewell's capture
Club | Season | Club rank | League apps | League goals | Total apps | Total goals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leeds United | 1995-1996 | England Premier League | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Leeds United | 1996-1997 | England Premier League | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Leeds United | 1997-1998 | England Premier League | 29 | 5 | 35 | 8 |
Leeds United | 1998-1999 | England Premier League | 38 | 6 | 49 | 9 |
Leeds United | 1999-2000 | England Premier League | 36 | 10 | 53 | 17 |
Leeds United | 2000-2001 | England Premier League | 17 | 2 | 23 | 5 |
Leeds United | 2001-2002 | England Premier League | 27 | 8 | 33 | 11 |
Leeds United | 2002-2003 | England Premier League | 31 | 14 | 41 | 16 |
Galatasaray | 2008-2009 | Turkey 1 | 26 | 8 | 35 | 12 |
Galatasaray | 2009-2010 | Turkey 1 | 17 | 9 | 27 | 13 |
Galatasaray | 2010-2011 | Turkey 1 | 20 | 5 | 25 | 7 |
Melbourne Victory | 2011-2012 | Australia 1 | 25 | 8 | 25 | 8 |
Al-Gharafa | 2012-2013 | Qatar 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
Melbourne Victory | 2013-2014 | Australia 1 | 16 | 2 | 16 | 2 |
Total | 288 | 78 | 368 | 109 |