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Harry Kewell Exclusive: Premier League Experience Left Me Mentally Scarred
Australia international enjoying football again after overcoming “mental and physical barriers” that blighted his Premier League career.
| Bet: | Returns: | Galatasaray £14.00 | Draw £43.33 | Kayserispor £80.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Galatasaray £14.00 | Draw £42.00 | Kayserispor £75.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Galatasaray £14.40 | Draw £43.30 | Kayserispor £70.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Galatasaray £14.50 | Draw £40.00 | Kayserispor £70.00 |
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Nov 4, 2009 9:00:00 AM
When Harry Kewell signed for Galatasaray, he was greeted by a crowd of elated fans, all chanting his name in harmony.
Despite a number of injury concerns, Kewell is on a mission to repay their loyalty and play with total freedom, taking inspiration from his successful tenure as a Leeds United fan favourite which earned him the PFA young player of the year award in the 1999-2000 season.
The Australian scored 45 goals in more than 180 appearances for Leeds over an eight-year period, before leaving the Yorkshire club in somewhat acrimonious circumstances for Liverpool, the team he'd supported as a boy. But his time at Anfield was blighted by persistent injuries, which prevented Reds' fans from seeing Kewell at his best on any consistent basis.
His move to Istanbul in July 2008 therefore represented the end of a difficult phase, and the taking on of a new challenge.
“I don’t feel under any pressure. It’s good for me to go out there and be fit, and enjoy my football,” Kewell told Goal.com UK.
“I’m not the only player who has been through these problems. Someone who has been through similar problems will say the same things. Once you get injured you have to overcome both physical and mental barriers and it’s not easy.
“It wasn’t a fear factor in the general sense; I just couldn’t sprint after I got injured at Liverpool. What was frustrating was it was something I could do easily when I was at Leeds, but for a long time I couldn’t do it.
“Although I had to have an operation shortly after I signed for Galatasaray, I feel good now. I have got it back into my system, knowing that I can do it. I feel much quicker and stronger. I’ve a lot more confidence now and I am enjoying it here.”
Although Kewell, 31, is approaching the latter years of his career, he dismisses suggestions that Galatasaray fans will not see the best of him.
The Sydney-born player says he was happy to say goodbye to the Premier League and begin a new chapter.
“I could never get started. I kept on picking up injuries. I’d play one game, then miss a few. It was very frustrating. The way it all ended, I was happy to close that book and start a new chapter,” he says.
Kewell credits his physiotherapist, Les Gelis, as the man who helped prolong his career. He rounds on his critics and blasts them for suggesting he was finished because of the number of injuries he sustained in the Premier League.
“A lot of people said I was finished when I left the Premier League. But those people didn’t know me and that was very disappointing, because if they knew me they would have known I am genuine. I went through a lot and I’m not afraid to lie down and work hard.
“Les helped when I was going through a dark time. He saved me from what could have been career-ending injuries. He looks after me here in Turkey, and to be fair, Galatasaray have just let him get on with it. Even when I got injured here, he was helpful.”
So what does the future hold for Harry Kewell?
He insists he is enjoying his football and is looking to rekindle “the good old days” at Leeds United by wearing number 19 for Galatasaray - the number he wore while at Leeds United.
“I enjoyed having that number when I was at Leeds. I had a fantastic time and my family is still based in Leeds.
“They say when you turn thirty you will enjoy your best years in football because you’ve got all the experience. I’m looking forward to playing for our fans because they are great.
“The players have also been good to me; we work hard for each other.”
Mohammed Bhana, Goal.com UK
Despite a number of injury concerns, Kewell is on a mission to repay their loyalty and play with total freedom, taking inspiration from his successful tenure as a Leeds United fan favourite which earned him the PFA young player of the year award in the 1999-2000 season.
The Australian scored 45 goals in more than 180 appearances for Leeds over an eight-year period, before leaving the Yorkshire club in somewhat acrimonious circumstances for Liverpool, the team he'd supported as a boy. But his time at Anfield was blighted by persistent injuries, which prevented Reds' fans from seeing Kewell at his best on any consistent basis.
His move to Istanbul in July 2008 therefore represented the end of a difficult phase, and the taking on of a new challenge.
“I don’t feel under any pressure. It’s good for me to go out there and be fit, and enjoy my football,” Kewell told Goal.com UK.
“I’m not the only player who has been through these problems. Someone who has been through similar problems will say the same things. Once you get injured you have to overcome both physical and mental barriers and it’s not easy.
“It wasn’t a fear factor in the general sense; I just couldn’t sprint after I got injured at Liverpool. What was frustrating was it was something I could do easily when I was at Leeds, but for a long time I couldn’t do it.
“Although I had to have an operation shortly after I signed for Galatasaray, I feel good now. I have got it back into my system, knowing that I can do it. I feel much quicker and stronger. I’ve a lot more confidence now and I am enjoying it here.”
Although Kewell, 31, is approaching the latter years of his career, he dismisses suggestions that Galatasaray fans will not see the best of him.
The Sydney-born player says he was happy to say goodbye to the Premier League and begin a new chapter.
“I could never get started. I kept on picking up injuries. I’d play one game, then miss a few. It was very frustrating. The way it all ended, I was happy to close that book and start a new chapter,” he says.
Kewell credits his physiotherapist, Les Gelis, as the man who helped prolong his career. He rounds on his critics and blasts them for suggesting he was finished because of the number of injuries he sustained in the Premier League.
“A lot of people said I was finished when I left the Premier League. But those people didn’t know me and that was very disappointing, because if they knew me they would have known I am genuine. I went through a lot and I’m not afraid to lie down and work hard.
“Les helped when I was going through a dark time. He saved me from what could have been career-ending injuries. He looks after me here in Turkey, and to be fair, Galatasaray have just let him get on with it. Even when I got injured here, he was helpful.”
So what does the future hold for Harry Kewell?
He insists he is enjoying his football and is looking to rekindle “the good old days” at Leeds United by wearing number 19 for Galatasaray - the number he wore while at Leeds United.
“I enjoyed having that number when I was at Leeds. I had a fantastic time and my family is still based in Leeds.
“They say when you turn thirty you will enjoy your best years in football because you’ve got all the experience. I’m looking forward to playing for our fans because they are great.
“The players have also been good to me; we work hard for each other.”
Mohammed Bhana, Goal.com UK
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