Harry Kewell will be recognised for his significant contribution to Australian sport

Football-Soccer - Australian Socceroos training at Leichhardt Oval . Harry Kewell leaves the field ..Pic;Gregg Porteous
Football-Soccer - Australian Socceroos training at Leichhardt Oval . Harry Kewell leaves the field ..Pic;Gregg PorteousSource: News Limited
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SOCCEROOS great Harry Kewell will become the first footballer in 22 years to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Kewell, 40, joins Peter Wilson (1985), Ray Baartz (1985), John Warren (1986), Joe Marston (1988) and Alfred Quill (1996) as he is recognised for his significant contribution to Australian sport.

Kewell has been recognised for his significant contribution to Australian sport.Source: Getty Images

In a career that spanned 19 years and three continents, Kewell scored 91 goals in 381 club appearances, captained the Socceroos among his 56 national caps and played in two World Cups during the Socceroos’ ‘golden generation’ of the 2000s.

He has inspired future generations of Australians to take up the game and his career will be formally recognised with his induction as an Athlete Member into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame at a gala dinner next month.

Kewell was part of the Socceroos ‘golden generation’.Source: AP

“To be accepted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is an honour,” Kewell said.

“As a footballer, sometimes we are recognised with team awards because it’s a team sport, but if you get the opportunity to receive an award as an individual it’s something really special to me because it’s not just looking at one result, it’s looking at the whole picture, a whole season or your whole career — it’s something special.”

Kewell grew up in Western Sydney, then left for England at the age of 15 to pursue his football dream. In 1996 he signed for Leeds United and made his first team debut for the club at just 17.

The gifted Kewell made his Leeds debut at just 17.Source: AFP

After becoming the youngest Socceroos debutant with his first cap against Chile, Kewell then went on to play in the Champions League semi-final for Leeds before joining Liverpool.

Following a spell in Turkey and a return to the A-League with Melbourne Heart, Kewell retired from football at the age of 35.

Since then, he’s coached Watford’s Under-21 side, English League Two club Crawley Town and last month he was appointed manager of Notts County.

After returning to Australia, Kewell retired from football at 35.Source: News Corp Australia

“I look back at my career and I know I gave everything,” he said.

“I never took any games for granted because I knew I was always just one game away from sitting on the bench. I can safely say that I don’t miss playing now. I gave everything my body had, I pushed it to its limits, and now I sit here now on another journey which I absolutely love.

“I have no regrets… if I could’ve avoided injury, of course I would’ve, but I feel that my career has put me in great stead of what I love doing now. I can understand injuries, I understand the players and their pain.

“Maybe that was the reason I went through it all? So I can help younger players coming through… If so, that’s a good reason.”

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