Wilko: Kewell's class

Wilkinson, who managed the Elland Road club for eight years between 1988 and 1996, was Kewell's first manager in England and the man who first saw the Australian's huge potential.

So strong was the young Kewell's desire to play in England that he and his family orchestrated his move into the big-time

"Harry really brought himself to Leeds' attention. Though his parents moved out to Australia, they still had very strong contact in the Leeds area," Wilkinson recalls.

"His parents approached Leeds because he wanted to get a trial. He came over as a schoolboy and the rest is history.

"It was important to assure his family that it was the right move for Harry so we also got his parents over and spoke to them about how we'd handle his education and living as well as the football side.

Kewell made an impressive start and soon found himself a main part of Wilkinson and successor George Graham's first-team plans. One aspect of the Sydney-born forward's game that was valued most was his ability to play in so many different positions.

"The first time I saw him play was in a pre-season youth game. At that point he could play anywhere - left back, midfield, wide left and up front," says Wilkinson.

"He was above average in terms of his performances at that time but what stood out very quickly was his determination and his self assurance. It's a big thing to leave home and travel thousands of miles to live somewhere else. You could compare Harry to Owen Hargreaves in that sense.

The last Englishman to have won the championship also feels that the move to Merseyside will suit both Liverpool and the player: "It will be a good marriage."

Kewell is not the only player to have come out of the Leeds youth system in the late 1990s. A whole host of talented players have been nurtured including England internationals Paul Robinson and Alan Smith.

"There's a lot of people involved at that time to develop that academy. We had a philosophy and that has paid dividends. A lot of the credit has to go to the people who worked there, in particular Paul Hart," explains Wilkinson, who has been caretaker England manager twice.

"It's paid financial dividends. I'm sure the people at Leeds would have preferred rewards to have come through the Champions League but the dividend being paid is coming in the form of money which is much needed."

Harry Kewell 

Nationality: Australian
Date of Birth: 22 September 1978 
Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia
Height: 5' 11'' 
Weight: 13 04 
Club: Liverpool 
Position: Midfielder/Forward 

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