Former Socceroos star Harry Kewell has called it a day on his football career.
The Australian international star has played nine games for the Melbourne Heart this season after glory years that saw the 35-year-old play for Leeds and Liverpool, calling it quits on a career that spanned 19 seasons and 16 for the Socceroos.
Kewell has recently battle a rib injury, but is hoping for a final send-off when the Melbourne Heart take on Western Sydney on April 12.
“For the World Cup I can sit back and enjoy it,” Kewell said Wednesday.
“There’s obviously going to be questions asked about the World Cup but I haven’t been part of the Australian squad for a while.
“For me it was time to step aside and let young players stand up.
“I think they will surprise a lot of people.
“I always said, it was a privilege and honour to play for your country and you’ve got to be playing at the highest level to do that.”
Kewell left Australia for a career in England at age 15, making his Premier League debut at 17. He scored 17 goals in the green and gold and represented Australia 56 times, including World Cups in 2006 and 2010.
Kewell played himself onto the world stage with Leeds, earning enough respect that the club felt they needed to knock back a huge transfer offer from Italian giant Inter Milan, but Kewell’s failed to match the magic at his next stops- a cash-strapped Leeds sold him to Liverpool before spending three season with Turkish side Galatasaray.
Injuries hampered his career, but there were a number of unforgettable moments. Among Kewell’s greatest on-field achievements were a role in Liverpool’s 2004-05 Champions League win over AC Milan and an FA Cup win against West Ham. Australia’s greatest ever international, his is 79th minute goal against Croatia in the 2006 World Cup will be forever entrenched in Socceroos’ history.
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Photo: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images
