Harry Kewell’s teaching journey has been unconventional, to say the least. His earlier job ended on the backside of England’s fifth tier, however he’s now simply three video games away from a continental title and a spot within the Membership World Cup. Fifa’s expanded 2025 event in the USA could be price an estimated $80m to Yokohama F Marinos however for the Australian’s teaching credentials it might be priceless.
On Wednesday, the five-time Japanese champions, coached by Kewell for the reason that flip of this yr, host Ulsan HD within the second leg of their Asian Champions League semi-final. The South Korean facet have a 1-0 benefit from final week, however there may be all to play for at Yokohama Worldwide Stadium.
The venue that hosted the 2002 World Cup last is a far cry from Crawley City’s Broadfield Stadium, the place in 2017 the previous Leeds and Liverpool winger turned the first Australian to take over an English professional club. It was a decent start however then all of it went incorrect. There have been 11 matches at Notts County, seven months at Oldham Athletic after which in 2021, a removed from magnificent seven video games and simply two factors at Barnet. Being fired by a crew fearful about relegation to the sixth tier doesn’t often lead to many choices, however having Ange Postecoglou onside helped the unemployed Kewell.
The now Tottenham boss gave Kewell a job at Celtic in the summertime of 2022 as first crew coach. Postecoglou’s success in Japan additionally proved helpful. He led Yokohama to the 2019 J-League title and advisable Kevin Muscat as his successor. The previous Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace defender delivered the championship in 2022 and as soon as Muscat moved to Shanghai Port in December, Yokohama moved for a 3rd successive Australian coach and a reader of the Postecoglou playbook.
“I’ve identified Ange and Kevin a very long time,” Kewell mentioned after taking the job. “I class them not solely as work colleagues, however buddies.” He promised evolution relatively than revolution. “I’m trying ahead to persevering with the work that Marinos have put in over the past 5, six years and sort of herald my very own gold mud on high of it.”
That glitter has, to this point, are available Asia. Home type has been first rate. A win on the house of champions Vissel Kobe earlier this month was spectacular and was adopted by victory over Gamba Osaka. These are nonetheless early days nevertheless with most groups having performed simply 9 matches. Yokohama are seventh, simply 5 factors behind leaders Machida Zelvia however with a sport in hand. Within the Champions League nevertheless, Kewell’s timing was good; he got here in simply earlier than the beginning of the knockout phases.
The 45 year-old has an ideal likelihood to make his mark, partly as a result of, regardless of their 5 home league championships, Yokohama have persistently underachieved on the continental stage. They’d by no means made it previous the spherical of 16 earlier than, that means Kewell has already managed to do one thing neither of his Australian predecessors managed – win a knockout Asian Champions League sport.
In doing so, he has displayed acquainted aggressive instincts. Simply as Postecoglou had Tottenham attacking when all the way down to 10 and 9 males in opposition to Chelsea earlier this Premier League season, Kewell impressed in March when Katsuya Nagato was despatched off simply moments into the second half of the second leg within the quarter-final in opposition to China’s Shandong Taishan. Yokohama had been 2-1 up from the primary leg however, regardless of the numerical drawback, there was no considered sitting deep. Kewell took a person out of midfield and strengthened the assault. It was courageous and profitable; the Marinos acquired the purpose that sealed their development.
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“We had no intention of adjusting something,” Kewell mentioned. “We’ve gamers with pace out in large areas the place we knew they didn’t need us to assault. Whether or not we had 11 gamers or 10 gamers, we wished to play the identical means.”
Aggression was once more the order of the day on the house of the formidable Ulsan within the first leg of the semi-final. The South Korean facet, gunning for a 3rd Asian title in addition to a 3rd consecutive Ok-League triumph, are a tricky outfit. Yokohama took the sport to the Tigers however couldn’t make any of their 18 purpose makes an attempt depend and misplaced 1-0. Kewell might be hoping for a unique final result on Wednesday.
In that case then an Asian Champions League last awaits in opposition to both Al-Ain of the United Arab Emirates (coached by fellow 2005 Uefa Champions League last alumni Hernan Crespo) or four-time winners Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia. It could be an immense event and alternative. Thus far Kewell has carried on the great work of his fellow Australians however now he has an opportunity to strike out on his personal, to win a significant worldwide trophy and transfer as much as the worldwide stage. Nottingham, Oldham and Barnet will look very far-off certainly.
