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HARRY KEWELL
Personal Stats
DOB: 22nd September 1978
Birthplace: Smithfield
Height
Profile
What can you say about Harry Kewell.
After another season where he raised his level of performance to an all time high and established himself as one of the true stars of world football.
Harry's fantastic campaign saw him pick up the PFA Young Footballer of the Year Award, the Packard Bell LUFC Player of the Year Award and his goals and scintillating skills have made him a number one target for most of the top clubs in Europe.
The big disappointment for Harry and Leeds is that an injury in pre-season has kept Leeds prize asset out of action and it is likely to be Christmas 2000 before he will return to the first team.
Having sprung to the attention of the nation during the 1997/98 season, United's 'Wizard of Oz', proved undoubtedly that it was no flash in the pan , with a superb second campaign for Leeds, which ended with a fourth place finish in the Premiership and a place in the UEFA Cup.
Now valued in excess of £20M, Harry remains loyal to Leeds and last summer signed a new five year contract.
Sydney born Harry was originally given his debut in the 1995/96 season, as a 17 year old, by Howard Wilkinson, but as George Graham bedded in the following season Harry's progress was held up as the boss set his sights on Premiership survival, rather than giving youth it's head, and Kewell whom Leeds had recruited from the New South Wales Soccer Academy and was already a full Australian international, was limited to just a single substitute appearance.
Then a pre-season injury, that was to rule Lee Sharpe out for the whole season, gave Harry the opportunity that he'd been waiting for, and he grabbed it with both hands.
Breaking into the side as a left winger Harry showed startling pace and trickery, and importantly bags full of confidence.
Having shown an eye for goal, he briefly kept Jimmy Hasselbaink out of the attack in the autumn, and then as Rod Wallace's magnificent start to the season petered out, it was Kewell who was increasingly used as Jimmy's strike partner.
The only dark cloud on an otherwise wonderful footballing horizon for Harry, seems to be the club's frosty relations with the Australian FA.
Soccer Australia, infuriated Leeds with a series of call ups for what were seen as meaningless tournaments, and when Kewell was pulled out of a three game tournament with Brazil by the club, claiming the youngster was injured, the Aussies secured a FIFA ban on Harry that ruled him out of Leeds action for the duration of the competition.
Having netted 8 goals from 32 starts in his first season, Harry went one better the year after and last season grabbed 16 goals as he was switched from a wide left player to an out and out striker, a role United boss David O'Leary may decide is his best.
As long as the Aussie ace is in a white shirt, Leeds fans won't care.
Career Stats:
Squad No. 10
Position: Midfield
Date Signed: 1st July 1995
Signed from: NSW Soccer Academy
Transfer fee: None
International Honours: Australian Previous Clubs: None
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