Source: Daily_Mail
Harry Kewell joins Melbourne Victory
Australia's greatest football export, Harry Kewell, has returned home to join A-League side Melbourne Victory, ending a protracted transfer saga that cost him a place in the international squad. [LNB]The 32-year-old former Liverpool forward had been without a club since leaving Turkish side Galatasaray at the end of last season and had been negotiating a move Down Under for more than two months. [LNB]The move for Kewell, who has scored 16 goals in 54 appearances for his country and played in two World Cups, ends a European-based career which, although successful, could have been more fruitful had it not been for continued injury problems.[LNB] Going Down Under: Harry Kewell has returned to Australia to see out his career[LNB]Although his signing is a major coup for the struggling domestic league, which has seen clubs struggle with finances and one close, Kewell and his agent have been pilloried in the Australian media for lavish demands, which included a cut of ticket sales. [LNB]'Harry is an Australian sporting icon and will bring not only incredible talent to Melbourne Victory but will attract more fans to football and boost greater interest and participation in the sport in Australia,' the club's chairman Anthony Di Pietro said.[LNB]'Our discussions with Harry have been progressing for some time and we are delighted to have completed what is the most significant signing in Australian football and... A-League history.' [LNB]The man himself revealed he was fulfilling a dream by returning to his homeland. [LNB] Mersey blues: Kewell's spell with Liverpool was blighted by injury[LNB]'I am proud to be Australian and want to give something back to the game there,' Kewell told the Melbourne Victory website. 'It has always been my ambition to play in my home country and I am very pleased to have that opportunity by playing for Melbourne Victory.' [LNB]Twice A-League champions Melbourne Victory kick-off their season on October 8 against Sydney FC.[LNB]Football Federation Australia (FFA) also hailed Kewell's homecoming. [LNB]'This is a red-letter day for the... A-League and Australian football,' FFA Chief Executive Ben Buckley said in a statement. 'The signing of Harry Kewell tells the story of ambition, credibility and growth for the game in Australia. [LNB]'Harry is rightly acclaimed as Australia's most gifted footballer with a celebrated record of achievement. His homecoming will be hugely popular.' [LNB] Making his name: The Australian was a massive hit at Leeds before the club's demise[LNB]A tricky winger, he made his name at Leeds United who he joined after a trial as a 15-year-old, before moving to Liverpool where he won the Champions League in 2005 and the FA Cup in 2006. [LNB]In recent years, his slowing pace has led him to play in a more advanced role but he has struggled to score regularly. [LNB]He was guilty of a costly miss when clear through on goal late on in the Asian Cup final in January, which Japan won 1-0 after extra time. [LNB]But despite the problems, the Sydney-born forward remained in demand with a number of A-League side expressing an interest in signing him. [LNB]The end of the transfer saga is also likely to see Kewell regain his place in the Socceroos squad ahead of their World Cup qualifying campaign which starts next month. [LNB]Kewell was left out of the Socceroos' squad by coach Holger Osieck for their 2-1 friendly win in Wales earlier this month because of fitness concerns.[LNB] Mark was so badly injured by a Taliban bomb he begged his mate to shoot him. Now he can't wait for his new babyBoro striker McDonald called up by Australia as Kewell is left on sidelinesAustralian outfit Sydney FC hope to bring Tim Cahill and Harry Kewell 'home'[LNB]
