By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:25am EDT
Australia's Harry Kewell celebrates after scoring against Uzbekistan during their 2011 Asian Cup semi-final soccer match at Khalifa stadium in Doha January 25, 2011.
Credit: Reuters/Fadi Al-Assaad
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Harry Kewell, Australia's first world-class footballer, will call time on his 18-year career at the end of the A-League season next month, the 35-year-old said on Wednesday.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The Sydney-born former Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray forward signed a one-year deal with Melbourne Heart in a bid to play in a third World Cup finals, but has spent much of the 2013-14 season sidelined by injury.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"It's been a pleasure to finish my career at Heart," he told a news conference in Melbourne.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"My last game will be on the 12th of April at AAMI Park against my home town, Western Sydney Wanderers."
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Voted Australia's greatest ever footballer by fans in 2012, Kewell won 56 caps and scored 17 goals for his country.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>He scored 45 goals in a glittering 181-game stint with Leeds, his trademark dashes down the left wing and combination with compatriot striker Mark Viduka thrilling home fans.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>Leeds' financial implosion saw Kewell cross to Premier League heavyweights Liverpool in 2003, but a succession of serious injuries left the player and fans frustrated.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>He shared in Liverpool's 2004-05 Champions League triumph, lasting 23 minutes before coming off injured after being named as a surprise starter in the final victory over AC Milan in Istanbul.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>His role in the penalty shoot-out victory over West Ham to seal the FA Cup the following year was similarly ill-fated, another injury seeing him substituted after halftime.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>Kewell, nonetheless, remained revered in Australia, helping the Socceroos qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals to break a 32-year drought since their maiden appearance.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>He shrugged off injury to play a decisive role in Germany, scoring an equalizer against Croatia that put the Socceroos into the knock-out round of 16 where they were beaten by eventual champions Italy.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>After parting ways with Liverpool in 2008, Kewell revived his career with a successful three-year stint with Turkish giants Galatasaray, and played another important role in securing Australia a second World Cup appearance.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>He endured a torrid tournament in South Africa, however, sent off for a deliberate handball in a group match against Ghana as the Socceroos crashed out.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>Kewell returned home in 2012 to play with Melbourne Victory in a huge boost for Australia's fledgling A-League competition, but left the club after a season for family reasons.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>He played a telling role in the Socceroos' march to the final of the 2011 Asian Cup, but has been largely overlooked in recent years, winning his final cap under Holger Osieck in 2012.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>His season as Heart captain has been emblematic of his career, brief flashes of brilliance on the pitch tempered by long spells injured on the sidelines.
<span id="midArticle_16"/>(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_17"/>
MELBOURNE Wed Mar 26, 2014 12:25am EDT
Credit: Reuters/Fadi Al-Assaad
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Harry Kewell, Australia's first world-class footballer, will call time on his 18-year career at the end of the A-League season next month, the 35-year-old said on Wednesday.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The Sydney-born former Leeds United, Liverpool and Galatasaray forward signed a one-year deal with Melbourne Heart in a bid to play in a third World Cup finals, but has spent much of the 2013-14 season sidelined by injury.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"It's been a pleasure to finish my career at Heart," he told a news conference in Melbourne.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>"My last game will be on the 12th of April at AAMI Park against my home town, Western Sydney Wanderers."
<span id="midArticle_4"/>Voted Australia's greatest ever footballer by fans in 2012, Kewell won 56 caps and scored 17 goals for his country.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>He scored 45 goals in a glittering 181-game stint with Leeds, his trademark dashes down the left wing and combination with compatriot striker Mark Viduka thrilling home fans.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>Leeds' financial implosion saw Kewell cross to Premier League heavyweights Liverpool in 2003, but a succession of serious injuries left the player and fans frustrated.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>He shared in Liverpool's 2004-05 Champions League triumph, lasting 23 minutes before coming off injured after being named as a surprise starter in the final victory over AC Milan in Istanbul.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>His role in the penalty shoot-out victory over West Ham to seal the FA Cup the following year was similarly ill-fated, another injury seeing him substituted after halftime.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>Kewell, nonetheless, remained revered in Australia, helping the Socceroos qualify for the 2006 World Cup finals to break a 32-year drought since their maiden appearance.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>He shrugged off injury to play a decisive role in Germany, scoring an equalizer against Croatia that put the Socceroos into the knock-out round of 16 where they were beaten by eventual champions Italy.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>After parting ways with Liverpool in 2008, Kewell revived his career with a successful three-year stint with Turkish giants Galatasaray, and played another important role in securing Australia a second World Cup appearance.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>He endured a torrid tournament in South Africa, however, sent off for a deliberate handball in a group match against Ghana as the Socceroos crashed out.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>Kewell returned home in 2012 to play with Melbourne Victory in a huge boost for Australia's fledgling A-League competition, but left the club after a season for family reasons.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>He played a telling role in the Socceroos' march to the final of the 2011 Asian Cup, but has been largely overlooked in recent years, winning his final cap under Holger Osieck in 2012.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>His season as Heart captain has been emblematic of his career, brief flashes of brilliance on the pitch tempered by long spells injured on the sidelines.
<span id="midArticle_16"/>(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_17"/>
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