HARRY Kewell barks out a laugh when I ask if football has changed much since he arrived in the UK as a 16-year-old kid in 1995.
“Just a bit, mate,” says the Aussie, who left his family behind in Sydney to forge a career that would eventually yield 274 Premier League appearances, 56 international caps and a Champions League crown with Liverpool.
“I made my debut for Leeds at 17. Back then, I think George Graham just sent us to the park in pre-season and told us to run. If you dropped out first, that was it – you got the sack!
“And look around you. We’re all walking around staring at smartphones. We’re all communicating with friends and family online. People speak to real, live people a lot less.
“In those days, it was only the really rich guys who had phones. I had to wait. For me, it was walking down to the telephone booth, throwing some money in and calling home that way.”
Kewell, now 38, reflects on his playing days with justifiable affection.
As one of David O’Leary’s vaunted ‘babies’, alongside Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith, Kewell won the PFA Young Player of the Year award in 2000 and a year later helped Leeds to the semi-finals of the Champions League.
European glory at Liverpool was followed by an FA Cup win in 2006, before successful spells in Turkey, Qatar and Australia.
Pegged
Few who watched Kewell ever questioned his talent: quick and powerful with a crackerjack left foot.
In 1999, Leeds reportedly rebuffed a £25m offer from Inter Milan for their young starlet. At the time, only one player – Christian Vieri – had cost more.
Yet fewer still had Kewell pegged as management material.
During four lacklustre years at Anfield, the winger’s attitude and fitness were regularly questioned.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 06, 2017-Ausgabe von The Football League Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der August 06, 2017-Ausgabe von The Football League Paper.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
TOWN EARN THEIR CORN!
HARROGATE mon Weaver breathed a sigh of relief after his side edged past Gainsborough Trinity at a rain-sodden Exercise Stadium.
OH MY JOSH - O'S KEEPER IS THE HERO!
RICHIE Wellens praised keeper Josh Keeley as Leyton Orient reached the third round following a dramatic win over National League Oldham.
'IT HASN'T BEEN MY WHOLE FOCUS AND THAT HELPED ME
SHAUN Barker never attempted to conceal the fact that he had no burning desire to play football.
MATT'S BOYS SHOW CLASS
WYCOMBE side-stepped a tricky second round fixture by defeating Wealdstone at Grosvenor Vale.
LUKE SEETHES OVER SLOPPY SWANS START
LUKE Williams admitted he gave his players the hairdryer treatment at half-time after seeing them come into the break trailing against bottom of the table Portsmouth.
UPSET FOR HARRIS AS TYLER HITS STUNNER
Neil Harris insisted the fact that Millwall were bitterly disappointed to claim only a point shows the progress his side have made over the past 10 months.
ANTE AT THE DOUBLE FOR ON-SONG CITY
NORWICH head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup paid tribute to the home fans after watching his side come through a tough test against Luton to win comfortably in the end.
WAYNE'S WORLD OF PAIN AS ARGYLE FOLD
WAYNE Rooney talked of \"the toughest week of my managerial career\" after watching his Plymouth side capitulate for the second time in four days.
WAYNE'S WORLD OF PAIN AS ARGYLE FOLD
WAYNE Rooney talked of \"the toughest week of my managerial career\" after watching his Plymouth side capitulate for the second time in four days.
Cleverley buzzed by Hornets' form
TOM Cleverley insists that his side's goalless draw against Queens Park Rangers at Vicarage Road is another building block rather than a disappointing result against a relegation-threatened team.
