£160,000 a game... that's what Harry Kewell cost Liverpool - TalkSoccer

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 07-05-2008, 07:26 AM

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Harry Kewell is leaving Liverpool as an expensive flop, having cost almost £160,000 a game over five years since joining them from Leeds.

He made 138 appearances and scored just 16 goals after being signed by Gerard Houllier from Leeds for £5million in 2003 on a contract worth £60,000 a week.

The Australia winger appeared destined for success when he signed, but a series of fitness problems restricted him and he has had an unhappy time, even being booed by his own fans when he went off injured early during the Champions League Final against AC Milan three years ago.

Rafa Benitez showed faith in him after succeeding Houllier, but the manager upset many supporters by giving Kewell a starting place for the 2006 FA Cup Final against West Ham.

He was substituted early in the second half.

At 29, Kewell's time at Anfield is up. He has played just 18 games for Liverpool in the last two seasons, and it became clear that his appearance as a second-half substitute in the shock FA Cup defeat by Barnsley in February would be his last.

Fulham, who attempted to sign him during the January transfer window, are almost certain to move for him again.

But Kewell will not accept an offer from Craven Cottage if they are relegated and is certain to attract a number of other clubs.

Liverpool have been given the go-ahead for a new 60,000-seater stadium at Stanley Park.

But with no sign of a break in the stand-off between American owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett, and DIC still hoping to take over the club, the precise date for a start on building remains uncertain.

The city council's planning committee approved a modified scheme drawn up by Dallas architects HKS earlier in the year. The stadium is due to open in time for the 2011-2012 Season.

Source: The Daily Mail

NJ10 · 07-05-2008, 03:34 PM

He didnt work out, and he wont be a great loss if he goes

But this £160k a game bollocks doesnt wash with me. Everything always comes back to money in football.....therefore Kewell earnt the club a few quid last season by scoring the goal which meant we finished 3rd not 4th.

I think the "expensive flop" tag is a bit over the top, after all he has not been far from the first team when fit- and players like Jonathan Woodgate & Ledley King get a hell of a lot more sympathy for their injuries. He only cost £5m (ish.....Bernie Mandic will tell you the full story one day I'm sure), he should theoretically have cost a lot more except that Leeds had allowed his contract to run dangerously close to expiry, and then saw the arse fall out of the club. He wasnt complete shite for all of his Liverpool career- first six months at the club he was good, very good at times. Played some great games for us, scored some great goals- in big games as well (Arsenal, Everton, United, Leeds).

And most fans were not upset when Kewell was given his start in the FA Cup final 06 at all, he had a decent second half to the season and was very good in the semi final against Chelsea, it was a shame he had to go off early (again) against West Ham.

The Rule · 08-05-2008, 01:47 AM

He was a part of a team that won the Champions League. That earned us about 15million. So he covered what we spent on him. A wonderful talent, cursed by injuries. I'm not sad he's leaving but as a football fan in general i'm sad he'll never fulfill his ability. Harry Kewell is ten times the player David Beckham is and marketed right could have had the same global impact. Everything Beckham is good at, Kewell was better at. Crossing, freekicks, passing. Plus he was a better dribbler and a better goalscorer.

One of the true unrealised talents, and unlike a fool like Collymore, it was through no fault of his own.

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 09-05-2008, 06:37 AM

Rafa did offer Kewell a new contract but with lower wage. Kewell turn it down and who could like him? He have done nothing for the club. Liverpool have paid a lot of money during when he was injured. He had a contract which paid him more than he deserves when you think about his skills. He was over-paid. Kewell have no feelings for Liverpool and you can see it on his attitude on the pitch. He have high thought about himself and it's clearly he play football for money.

He ain't good enough too play for Liverpool anyway. Won't miss him.

Buddha14 · 09-05-2008, 11:20 AM

What started this injury ravaged career was El Tel at Leeds. Harry was injured but Venables kept playing him. Who knows what might have been? He still is a great player as The Rule said he is a lot better than Beckham at everything Football wise in terms of skill. He is Still Australia's Beckham

**russe||** · 14-05-2008, 08:27 PM

I remember when he signed for Liverpool he said he turned down Man Utd saying Liverpool were on the way up while Man Utd were on the wane. I can't help but feel we dodged a bullet there (he was wrong too).

NJ10 · 14-05-2008, 10:05 PM

I also remember when he signed for Liverpool. We had been linked with Damien Duff for over a year, and looked set to meet his buyout clause (£17m I think Chelsea paid in the end), then all of a sudden Kewell started being mentioned, and for £5m. I was fking made up, thought he was gonna be massive for us. Even when Leeds were going down the shitter he was head and shoulders (along with Viduka) above the rest.

He started well, but his fitness fked him up big time. Crying shame, cos we could have been talking about a piece of genius from Houllier getting Kewell for £5m.

**russe||** · 15-05-2008, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJ10

I also remember when he signed for Liverpool. We had been linked with Damien Duff for over a year, and looked set to meet his buyout clause (£17m I think Chelsea paid in the end), then all of a sudden Kewell started being mentioned, and for £5m. I was fking made up, thought he was gonna be massive for us. Even when Leeds were going down the shitter he was head and shoulders (along with Viduka) above the rest.

He started well, but his fitness fked him up big time. Crying shame, cos we could have been talking about a piece of genius from Houllier getting Kewell for £5m.

Very true. It is easy to forget how good he was when Liverpool signed him and how much of a bargain he was at £5m. I'd say more than his injuries were the problem though; he didn't seem to have the right attitude or work ethic either.

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 15-05-2008, 06:42 AM

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he didn't seem to have the right attitude or work ethic either.

Totally agree. He's attitude is awful.

Candide · 19-05-2008, 11:28 AM

I remember the day Kewell signed for Liverpool; it was absolutely huge in Australia, it's what really began the belief we were worthy of attending the World Cup finals.

It has been such a shame the way in which this talented footballer has got one injury after another. He could have been one of the greatest left sided players in the world - up there with Giggs and Roben and Malouda.

But as a Liverpool fan I perfectly well understand the need to move on and get rid of Kewell. Hopefully he will find a decent middle/lower Premier League club to play for and won't get bloody injured again!

The Rule · 21-05-2008, 11:49 PM

Kewell Hits Back - Sky Sports

Harry Kewell has rejected criticism that he was an expensive flop at Liverpool.

The Australian international was released by Liverpool earlier this month after his contract expired at Anfield.

Kewell saw his five years at Anfield blighted by injury, with the winger failing to hit the heights he did at previous club Leeds.

The 29-year-old has come in for criticism from the media for his disappointing spell on Merseyside, but Kewell is refusing to be made a scapegoat.

"There are always scapegoats, there are always people they want to blame," Kewell told reporters in Australia ahead of his country's friendly against Ghana.

Unfortunate
"It's unfortunate I was one of them because I didn't put my hand up to get injured. It's a shame because I haven't done nothing wrong.

"It's something that they live and die for over there.

"They want to write things that aren't nice, but you just don't read it and you get on with your life."

Point to prove
Kewell says injuries prevented him from showing his true worth to Liverpool fans and he claims he would like to recapture his best form to prove a point to Reds boss Rafa Benitez.

"The one person I would like to show is probably my old manager," added Kewell.

"I didn't get a chance to show him a lot of what I could do. It would be great just to show him what I was capable of doing."

Portsmouth have been linked with a move for Kewell, but the Australian has rejected the rumours and says he is keeping all his options open.

"Apparently my agent did it [a deal with Portsmouth] while he was on the plane

coming over to Australia, so I don't know how he's done that," added Kewell.

"But I've never shied away from going abroad. I've never shied away from

playing in the Premier League, I've never shied away from playing anywhere.

Buddha14 · 31-05-2008, 07:26 AM

I dont want him we have kranjcar and utaka

Buddha14 · 01-06-2008, 10:16 AM

Watching him tonight against Iraq was Vintage Harry Kewell. Everytime he had the ball at his feet he looked as was dangerous. controlling play controlling attacks a man of the match effort topped off with a headed goal.

**Mighty T.A.L.** · 01-06-2008, 07:25 PM

Good to hear him perform quality.

**Dellas** · 04-07-2008, 01:22 PM

Galatasaray claim Kewell transfer

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Galatasaray claim they have signed Harry Kewell - but the Australian's agent Bernie Mandic insists the deal has not been completed.

The Turkish club's website said Kewell, 29, had signed a three-year contract after he was not offered a new deal by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.

But Mandic said: "We have not finalised a deal for Harry and it's down to two possibilities."

Mandic added that Kewell's future may become clearer on Saturday.

Roma, Spartak Moscow and Portsmouth have all been linked with a move for the Australian international.

Kewell had five injury-troubled seasons at Liverpool after moving from Leeds.

A move to Galatasaray would end any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia's three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.

Kewell was sent off playing for Leeds against Galatasaray in the 2000 Uefa Cup semi-final.

He scored a goal and helped set up another in Australia's 3-1 win over Qatar in June that guaranteed them a place in the second round of Asian qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

source: BBC SPORT | Football | Europe | Galatasaray claim Kewell transfer

Injuries affected his career at Liverpool and I guess a fresh start would help him regain what form he hes left.