Harry Kewell has opened up on the “nightmare” Liverpool spell that left him crying on the end of his bed and how Galatasaray saved his career .
The Australian winger arrived at Anfield in 2003 as a dazzling talent from Leeds, handed the famous No.7 shirt and dreams of glory . But injuries turned his five years on Merseyside into a battle for survival.
THE GLORY AND THE PAIN
Kewell made 49 appearances in his debut season, scoring 11 goals . The highs were real. But under Rafa Benitez, the lows became unbearable.
He started the 2005 Champions League final against AC Milan and was subbed after just 23 minutes . Started the 2006 FA Cup final, off in the 48th minute with a groin injury . A League Cup final appearance, another early exit.
“I’ve had 14 operations and the majority were at Liverpool,” Kewell revealed. “It was a nightmare. An absolute nightmare. You’d have an operation and you think ‘That’s it, that’s finished now.’ It doesn’t happen.”
THE DARKEST MOMENT
After that 2006 FA Cup final injury, Kewell barely played the following season. Three appearances. Months of rehab. Doubt creeping in.
“I was going through a bad moment towards the end of my time at Liverpool, because I didn’t know what was happening with myself,” he told SBS Sport in 2017.
“I remember sitting on the end of the bed and telling my wife, ‘What’s going on? I may have to quit’ I wasn’t enjoying football. I wasn’t feeling great; every time I was playing, my body was breaking down.”
THE GALATASARAY RESCUE
The move to Turkey in 2008 changed everything.
“We decided that I had to move to get a fresh start and break out of England … my adventure started in Istanbul and I remember just falling in love with football again because I had gone through such a horrible time.”
Across three seasons, Kewell played 91 games, scored 34 goals, provided 17 assists . He won the Turkish Super Cup. More importantly, he found joy again.
“When you talk about falling in love with football again that’s what Galatasaray did for me.”
THE PERSPECTIVE
Despite the pain, Kewell looks back with balance. Three of his five Liverpool years were ruined by injury. But he played in two Champions League finals, an FA Cup final, the Club World Cup, the Super Cup.
“It evened itself out,” he said. “I was very lucky to play them even though I got injured in them, although Benitez used to say that when that did happen in a final they usually won, so cheers for that mate.”
THE CONNECTION
Galatasaray face Liverpool’s fierce rivals Manchester United in the Champions League last 16 this week . Kewell’s old club against his saviour club. There’s symmetry there.
For Kewell, the pain of Anfield is behind him. The joy of Galatasaray lives on. And 14 operations later, he’s still standing. Still smiling. Still in love with the game.
