Turkey

Phillip Buckley

Galatasaray have confirmed what could very well be their major summer signing. Harry Kewell has joined from Liverpool on a free transfer. How much can the Turkish giants expect from Kewell? Do they think they are getting the winger that looked set for the very top at Leeds United? And equally, will Turkey give Kewell an opportunity to relaunch his career?

Strangely, Rafa Benitez offered Harry Kewell a new deal to keep him at Anfield. To say Liverpool fans were shocked at this would be an understatement, but, nevertheless, the Spanish boss offered Kewell a new pay as you play contract by all accounts. The Australian only managed sixteen apperances in the last two years, and in stark contrast to his time at Leeds (in his last season in a Leeds shirt he clocked up 16 goals), only found the back of the net on four occasions for the Reds since the 2004/05 season.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Kewell rejected the new deal. I suppose when you struggle to reach double digits in appearances for a whole season such a deal could leave you with a small pay packet. Small that is for the winger who was reportedly earning £70,000 per week with Liverpool.

Kewell seemed set for Italian club Roma for most of the summer and sceptics would be forgiven for thinking that the only reason he has headed to Istanbul is to pick up the more money on offer. Certainly it seems a strange choice. Roma, one of Italy’s top clubs, regular competitors in the Champions League for the past few years and the challenge of Serie A, have seemingly lost out to Galatasaray and Turkish football.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m a big fan of Turkish football, it’s up and coming with some very underrated teams. The supporters are passionate in the extreme and matches between the big Istanbul clubs rival any club games in the world. However, what can’t be denied is that the game in Turkey is at a lower level than that of Serie A. The infrastructure cannot compare to that in Italy and Turkey will represent a major culture shock for Kewell. You wouldn’t find many a top player who would choose Galatsaray over Roma.

Liverpool fans would all agree that they expected a lot more from the Aussie when he arrived in the summer of 2003. Kewell was tipped for the very top of the world game when he dazzled at Leeds United, however, his form some would say began to dip before he even made the move to Anfield. What cannot be disputed though is that Liverpool never saw the best of Kewell. He was supposed to be the final piece in Gerard Houllier’s jigsaw, the potent goalscoring winger who would add that extra ingredient to make the Reds title winners. In reality he was a huge disappointment.

Kewell has suffered with injury problem after injury problem and would probably argue he never got time to build up a decent run in the side. But Liverpool fans did see Harry Kewell fully fit, he did add much needed balance down the left flank, and he did score some outstanding goals, but never delivered the level of performance expected of him and the form produced at Leeds seemed a long way away.

It’s perhaps important though to note that Rafa Benitez obviously sees great talent in Kewell, hence the surprising decision to offer him a new contract. In 2005 Bentiez gambled by naming Kewell in the starting eleven for the Champions League final against AC Milan, despite the fact that he had missed a great many games with injury. The gamble didn’t pay off however and the Australian was substituted early in the first half with a torn abductor muscle.

One thing that has baffled many is just how Kewell has lost his ability to dribble past opponents as if they were not there. His ability to beat a man was second to none, yet as he has aged it has evapourated. Whether this is down to his numerous injuries or just his confidence being shot, remains to be seen. It is rare these days to see him confidently take on a defender and beat him, Kewell prefers the pass to a teammate.

Is Turkey the ideal place to rebuild his stuttering career? Certainly if he spends as much time in the treatment room as at Anfield the Galatasaray supporters will quickly lose paitence with him. Remember too that there is a limit on the number of foreign players that a Turkish club is allowed to have on its books, so a foreign player always injured will be a luxury they cannot afford.

Kewell certainly has the ability to be a big hit in the Turkish Super Lig though, but to become one of the best players in the league he will have to rediscover his earlier form, become unafraid to take defenders on and willing to do the unexpected. Maybe what Harry Kewell really needs is to rediscover his love for the game. A constant complaint from Liverpool supporters was that he just didn’t care enough. Maybe the money had taken some of his motivation away? Maybe it was the constant injuries? Or maybe the fans were just unfair?

Playing in the same team as the Brazilian Lincoln, it will be plain to see just how good Kewell is, because he’ll have to be mighty good to live with the talented ex-Schalke schemer. Also with Euro 2008 sensation Arda Turan set to leave Galatasaray this summer, Kewell will be labelled as his replacement, this could be a big burden to shoulder.

Galatasaray fans should though expect to see some sensational goals, mainly powerful shots from outside the penalty area. Kewell will also be able to play killer balls through to the Gala forwards.

All in all this has been greeted as a strange move for the Aussie. However, it could well be just what he needs. At Galatasaray he will have passionate support as well as Champions League football. If, and it’s a big if, he stays fit, he has the ability to tear apart teams in Turkey.

Galatasaray fans will be wearing a huge smile at the moment and waiting to be left open mouthed at the skills of Harry Kewell. But remember, Liverpool fans were equally excited, and by the end of this season you would struggle to find even one who wanted Kewell to stay.

The Turkish Super Lig can be an unforgiving place, good luck Harry, you have the talent, but do you still have the desire? If you don’t Turkey will find you out.