On behalf of Harry Kewell, Melbourne Heart FC confirms the Socceroo legend will retire from professional football at the end of the current Hyundai A-League season.
On behalf of Harry Kewell, Melbourne Heart FC confirms the Socceroo legend will retire from professional football at the end of the current Hyundai A-League season.
Kewell-s final appearance for Melbourne Heart FC will be against the Western Sydney Wanderers at AAMI Park in the final round of the Hyundai A-League 2013/14 season on Saturday 12 April.
Kewell will be unavailable for the next two matches against Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United after sustaining an abdominal strain in the closing stages of the Heart-s last home match against the Central Coast Mariners.
However, Kewell is certain to start the Round 27 match, when he is sure to receive a warm send-off against the club representing his home suburb of Smithfield, in Sydney-s West.
Head Coach John van-t Schip paid tribute to Kewell-s career and his contribution to Melbourne Heart:
“Harry-s record as a footballer speaks for itself. To achieve what he has done as a European player would have been amazing but to do it as an Australian player who needed to leave home as a teenager makes it a very unique and special story.
“Having worked with Harry close up, I see what a great professional he is and how much he loves football. I hope that this rubs off on all the other players that we have at this club so that we can take it with us into future seasons.”
Kewell-s achievements at club and international level remain exceptional:
• Winner: 2005 UEFA Champions League with Liverpool FC
• Winner: 2006 FA Cup with Liverpool FC
• Winner: 2006 UEFA Super Cup with Liverpool FC
• Runner-Up: 2007 UEFA Champions League with Liverpool FC
• 60 International Matches for Australia, including 19 goals
• Youngest ever debutante for the Socceroos in 1996 at 17 years, 7 months;
• Appearances at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cup
• 2000 PFA Premiership Young Player of the Year & PFA Team of the Year
• EPL debut for Leeds United in 1996 as a 17 year old
• Three-time Oceania Footballer of the Year
• Member of the Executive of the PFA from 2002 to 2006
• PFA Harry Kewell Medal: Awarded to Australia-s Young Player of the Year
Biography
Harry Kewell
DOB: 22 September 1978 (age 35)
Place of birth: Smithfield, Sydney, Australia
Position: Attacking Midfielder/Striker
Clubs (Appearances, Goals): Leeds United (181, 45), Liverpool (93, 12), Galatasaray (63, 22), Melbourne Victory 25, 8), Al-Gharafa (3,1), Melbourne Heart FC (14, 2)
