Melbourne Heart today unveiled Harry Kewell as their new club captain for the upcoming A-League season, a move that is sure to rile up Victory fans ahead of the Melbourne Derby.
Head coach John Aloisi said it was an easy decision, simply because of the professionalism that Kewell displays around the club.
“I’ve known Harry for a while and I’ve known what he’s like as a player and the ability he’s got, but just to see the players, how they are around him and the training has lifted as soon as he’s walked into the change room,” Aloisi said.
This is the first time Kewell has been appointed as captain of a football club and he is excited by the prospect of leading the Heart.
“I know that this is going to be challenging, but I’m looking forward to the challenges ahead,” Kewell said.
“I’ve played under some great captains in my career and I’ve learned from them so hopefully I can call upon a few things they’ve done when they were captains and I can bring them to Melbourne Heart.”
The former Victory, Galatasary, Liverpool and Leeds winger won’t have to look very far for notable examples, having played with the likes of Steven Gerrard and Lucas Neill.
“I know what I want to achieve, and that’s the title. I dream big, I think big and that’s what I want to achieve,” he said.
Aloisi echoed the ambition shown by Kewell, but also stated that everyone else in the league would ultimately have the same goal.
“I think that everyone would think the same in the A-League. I think everyone believes they got a chance of winning it. We’re no different,” he said.
“We’re putting together a squad that’s been competitive and you have to aim high and that’s what we’re doing. And I’m sure that every other club in the A-League is the same.”