Harry Kewell Net Worth, Height, Age, Wife, Children, Career and More

Harry Kewell is one of the most gifted footballers Australia has produced. An explosive left sided attacker who shone in the Premier League and on the World Cup stage, he later reinvented himself as a modern coach in Europe and Asia. In 2025 he began a new chapter as head coach of Hanoi FC.

Quick Facts

Facts	Details
Full Name	Harry Kewell
Age	47 years old (as of 2025)
Date of Birth	22 September 1978
Parents	Rod Kewell (English father), Helen Kewell (Australian mother)
Net Worth	Estimated 19 to 20 million US dollars (2025)
Height	1.80 metres 5 ft 11 in
Spouse / Partner	Married to English actress and presenter Sheree Murphy since 2002 four children
Ethnicity	Australian of English and Greek heritage
Nationality	Australian
Source of Wealth	Professional football contracts, coaching salaries, endorsements, investments
Education	Smithfield Public School, St Johns Park High School, Westfields Sports High School, NSW Soccer Academy

Early Life & Origin Story

Harry Kewell was born in Smithfield in western Sydney. His father Rod was English and his mother Helen was an Australian of Greek descent, which later helped him secure a British passport for his move to Europe.

He grew up in a football loving family and followed Liverpool from afar through English football broadcasts. That early attachment to the Anfield club would become a powerful narrative thread in his career and later shape a major transfer decision.

Kewell played junior football for Smithfield Hotspurs, now Fairfield Hotspurs, before joining Marconi Fairfield, one of the leading youth development clubs in Australia. His talent was obvious even before his teenage years. Coaches remember his close control and his willingness to run at defenders again and again.

At school he moved from Smithfield Public School to St Johns Park High School and then to Westfields Sports High School, a specialist institution that nurtures elite athletes. Balancing studies with heavy training loads became normal for him while he also attended the NSW Soccer Academy.

The real turning point came at only 15. In 1995 Kewell travelled to England with a Marconi youth squad and impressed staff at Leeds United during a trial. His fathers British heritage allowed him to meet visa rules and the club offered him a place in their youth system.

Moving from suburban Sydney to northern England as a teenager required courage and maturity. Kewell left family and friends behind to chase a football dream in a foreign climate and culture. Those formative years in the Leeds academy hardened him and turned natural talent into professional discipline.

Within three seasons he grew from promising youth winger to senior squad member. That rapid rise from local Sydney pitches to Elland Road marked the decisive origin story behind his later reputation as Australias greatest football export.

Harry Kewell Career & Rise to Fame

Kewells career arc is closely tied to the Premier League boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He emerged as a creative wide forward at Leeds United, became a Champions League winner with Liverpool, and remained the face of the Socceroos golden generation for more than a decade.

Playing Career Milestones

Kewell made his senior debut for Leeds at 17 in March 1996 against Middlesbrough, a remarkable achievement for a player who had only recently completed his apprenticeship in the youth system.

Over seven league seasons with Leeds from 1996 to 2003 he played 181 league matches and scored 45 league goals. Across all competitions his tally exceeded 200 games and more than 60 goals. That output was impressive for a wide player who often operated far from goal.

The 1999 to 2000 season established him as a star. Kewell won the Professional Footballers Association Young Player of the Year award and helped Leeds qualify for the Champions League. He combined with Mark Viduka and Alan Smith to form a dynamic attacking unit that troubled the best defences in Europe.

In the 2000 to 2001 campaign Leeds produced a memorable Champions League run. Kewell was a central creative force as the club reached the semi finals, defeating giants such as AC Milan and Deportivo La Coruna along the way. Although Leeds fell short of the final, that run remains one of the high points in the clubs modern history.

Financial mismanagement eventually tore that Leeds side apart. As key players were sold and the club slid into crisis, Kewell became one of the most valuable assets in the squad. The manner of his eventual exit to Liverpool later became a major talking point and controversy.

After leaving Leeds he enjoyed further high level experiences with Galatasaray, Melbourne Victory, Al Gharafa in Qatar and Melbourne Heart, rounding out a club career that yielded more than 380 league appearances and around 90 league goals.

Liverpool: Fulfilling a Boyhood Dream

In July 2003 Kewell signed for Liverpool, the team he had idolised as a boy. The move, believed to be worth about five million pounds, gave him the chance to play at Anfield wearing the iconic number seven shirt previously worn by figures like Kevin Keegan and Kenny Dalglish.

His first season showed why Liverpool had pursued him. Kewell scored 10 goals in all competitions and struck his first Liverpool goal against local rivals Everton. When fit he offered width, creativity and a goal threat cutting in from the left side of midfield or attack.

The pinnacle came in the 2004 to 2005 season when Liverpool reached the Champions League final against AC Milan in Istanbul. Kewell started the match but was forced off with injury in the first half, a moment that sparked debate among fans and pundits. Liverpool staged their famous comeback to win on penalties and Kewell received a winners medal.

Injuries were a constant theme across his five years at Anfield. Groin and hamstring problems limited his minutes and disrupted his rhythm. In total he made 93 league appearances for Liverpool and scored 12 league goals, numbers that many observers felt did not fully reflect his natural ability.

Despite those frustrations he added both a Champions League title and an FA Cup winner medal to his collection, achievements that strengthened his reputation as one of the most decorated Australian footballers of all time.

International Career with Australia (“Socceroos”)

Kewells relationship with the Australian national team began early. He played at the 1995 FIFA Under 17 World Championship and made his senior debut at 17 years and seven months in a friendly against Chile in April 1996, becoming Australias youngest senior international at that time.

He went on to win 58 senior caps for the Socceroos and scored 17 goals. Those appearances spanned nearly two decades and covered tournaments on every continent.

Key international highlights include

• Playing a starring role in the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup where Australia finished runners up to Brazil
• Scoring a vital goal against Croatia at the 2006 World Cup that sent Australia into the knockout stage for the first time
• Appearing at both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and the 2011 AFC Asian Cup where Australia again finished runners up

For many Australian fans Kewell symbolised the countrys shift from the old Oceania qualifiers to full membership in the Asian Football Confederation and regular participation at World Cups. His composure and technique under pressure were central to that transition.

Harry Kewell Style

At his peak Kewell combined acceleration, close control and a clean left foot in a way that drew comparisons with the best wingers in Europe. He could start wide on the left, drift inside as a number ten or operate as a second striker behind a target forward.

He was known for his ability to beat defenders one on one and to strike from distance. Supporters at Leeds and Liverpool remember curling shots from the edge of the box and late runs that caught defenders out of position. His awareness also allowed him to slide passes in behind defences for runners like Mark Viduka.

Coaches praised his balance and first touch. Kewell often received the ball under pressure near the touchline, turned sharply and drove toward goal. That direct style helped stretch defensive lines and created space for teammates.

However injuries meant that fans rarely saw his best form across long seasons. Long spells on the treatment table limited his minutes and hampered his ability to build continuity. Some critics argued that his career, brilliant at moments, did not quite reach the consistent heights it once promised.

Even with that caveat he is frequently described as the most naturally talented male footballer Australia has produced. In 2012 a poll of players, coaches and fans named him Australias greatest ever footballer. His induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2018 as an Athlete Member further cemented that legacy.

Harry Kewell Transition to Coaching & Managerial Career

After retiring from playing in 2014, Kewell committed to a second career on the touchline. He obtained his UEFA coaching badges and worked with youth teams before stepping into senior management.

His first significant coaching role came at Watford, where he took charge of the under 21 side in 2015. Working with young professionals gave him a chance to apply his technical knowledge and to understand the daily planning required in modern academies.

In 2017 he made history by becoming the first Australian to manage a professional English club when Crawley Town appointed him head coach in League Two. Crawley finished mid table in his only full season, a respectable result for a club with limited resources.

Short spells at Notts County, Oldham Athletic and Barnet followed. None of those stints lasted long and results were mixed. The pattern suggested a young coach still finding his voice and wrestling with the realities of lower league football, where budgets are tight and patience is often short.

A fresh opportunity arose in 2022 when Ange Postecoglou invited Kewell to join the staff at Celtic as a first team coach. At Celtic he worked with elite players, supported game planning for European fixtures and helped the club achieve a domestic treble in the 2022 to 2023 season.

In late 2023 he moved into Asian club management as head coach of Yokohama F Marinos. Under his guidance the club reached the 2024 AFC Champions League final but lost to Al Ain of the United Arab Emirates. A dip in domestic results followed and Yokohama dismissed him in July 2024.

Despite that setback his track record in continental competition attracted interest elsewhere in Asia. In October 2025 Hanoi FC announced Kewell as their new head coach. Vietnamese media and club officials described the appointment as part of a long term plan to build a more modern, internationally aware football identity in the capital.

Legacy, Reputation & Influence

Kewells legacy is multi layered. As a player he helped open doors for Australian footballers in top European leagues. His success at Leeds United and Liverpool showed that talent from the A League and youth systems in Australia could thrive in the most intense environments.

He became a central figure in the Socceroos golden generation alongside peers such as Tim Cahill, Mark Viduka, Lucas Neill and Mark Schwarzer. That group finally took Australia back to the World Cup in 2006 and changed expectations around what the national team could achieve.

Kewell also serves as a bridge between football cultures. His post playing career has taken him from English lower divisions to Scottish giants and major Asian clubs. That route mirrors the wider globalisation of football, with knowledge and expertise flowing between Europe and the rapidly growing markets of Japan and Vietnam.

His reputation as a coach is still under construction. Some view his early sackings as evidence that elite playing experience does not automatically translate into instant managerial success. Others note that he has chosen challenging projects rather than comfortable roles, and argue that his willingness to learn in different environments will pay off over time.

In Australia his status as a Hall of Fame member and Champions League winner is secure. For young players from Sydney or Melbourne, the story of a teenager who left western Sydney for Yorkshire and then lifted the European Cup remains an enduring source of inspiration.

What is Harry Kewell’s Net Worth?

Estimating the exact net worth of a retired footballer turned coach is not an exact science. However multiple reputable sources converge on a figure in the high teen millions of US dollars for Harry Kewell in 2025.

Older listings describe a fortune of about 19 point 5 million dollars during his Melbourne Heart playing days. More recent pieces from 2024 and 2025 place his wealth in a similar band, usually between 19 and 20 million US dollars. A ranking of wealthy Australians lists him with a round figure of 20 million dollars.

Based on these converging estimates a reasonable working figure for 2025 is

• Approximate net worth
  • 19 to 20 million US dollars

The main components of that net worth appear to be

• Player contracts across Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Al Gharafa, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart
• Performance bonuses and prize money, including Champions League and domestic cup success with Liverpool
• Endorsement deals during his playing prime with sportswear and consumer brands
• Coaching salaries in England, Scotland, Japan and Vietnam
• Property investments in the United Kingdom and Australia reported in lifestyle coverage

These figures remain estimates rather than audited disclosures, but the consistency across independent sources supports the broad range given above.

Personal Life & Relationships

Harry Kewell married Sheree Murphy, a well known English actress and television presenter, in 2002 after they met while he was playing for Leeds. The couple have four children and have divided their time between the United Kingdom and periods back in Australia and now Asia as his coaching roles have changed.

Murphy gained fame through her role in the soap opera Emmerdale and later through appearances on reality and lifestyle programmes. The partnership between a football star and a television personality attracted media interest, but the couple have generally tried to keep family life away from tabloid drama.

Interviews over the years have highlighted Kewells emphasis on family stability. He has spoken about the challenges of being far from his parents and siblings in Australia during long European seasons and the importance of providing a secure base for his own children.

Public information about his children remains limited, in line with a common approach among high profile athletes who want to protect their offspring from early exposure. Media coverage tends to focus on his professional activities rather than personal details.

Kewell also maintains cultural ties to his Greek heritage through his mothers side of the family. That background is occasionally noted in Australian coverage and has added to his resonance among fans with similar migrant family histories.

Controversies

Like many high profile footballers, Kewell has experienced several contentious moments, mostly linked to transfers and club choices rather than off field misconduct.

One of the most documented disputes involved former England striker Gary Lineker. In 2003 Lineker wrote a column in The Sunday Telegraph about Kewells transfer from Leeds United to Liverpool. The article criticised the structure of the deal and implied that Kewell had been involved in an arrangement that was bad for his old club.

Kewell sued Lineker and the newspaper for alleged defamation, arguing that the article made him appear dishonest and disloyal. The libel trial in London in 2005 ended with a hung jury and no clear verdict. Reports at the time suggested that the parties later reached a private settlement, and the case did not proceed to a retrial.

Another flashpoint came when Kewell signed for Galatasaray in 2008. Some Leeds United supporters were angry because of the Turkish clubs association with the tragic stabbing of two Leeds fans before a UEFA Cup tie in Istanbul in 2000. Kewell was accused by sections of the fanbase of insensitivity, although he stated that he respected the victims families and that his decision was a professional choice.

On the international stage he was occasionally criticised for disputes over national team availability and for his red card against Ghana at the 2010 World Cup, which left Australia with ten men in a crucial group match. Critics claimed that his reaction to a handball decision was avoidable, while supporters argued that the call was harsh.

There have also been less formal controversies around his injury record at Liverpool, where some pundits questioned his commitment or suggested he was too cautious in returning from knocks. Kewell publicly rejected those claims and insisted his fitness problems were genuine and frustrating.

Importantly none of these episodes involved criminal behaviour. They belong more to the arena of public disagreement, fan emotion and media scrutiny that often surrounds elite football careers.

Conclusion

Harry Kewell occupies a unique place in Australian and international football history. As a player he combined flair, pace and imagination and at his best could influence games at the highest level, from Champions League semi finals to World Cup knockouts.

His story also reflects the wider journey of Australian football. He was part of the generation that moved from occasional appearances on the world stage to regular World Cup qualification and competitive performances against traditional powers. For many Australian supporters, the goal against Croatia in 2006 remains one of the defining moments of their football lives.

In his coaching career he has chosen challenging posts rather than safe options, managing struggling English clubs, working at Celtic during a successful period, taking Yokohama F Marinos to a continental final and now leading Hanoi FC in Vietnam. These choices suggest a figure still hungry to learn and to prove himself in new contexts.

Whether his managerial legacy ultimately matches his playing impact remains to be seen. What is clear is that Harry Kewell continues to shape football conversations across three continents and remains a reference point for ambition and risk taking for young players from Australia and beyond.

FAQs

How old is Harry Kewell in 2025?
He is 47 years old, born on 22 September 1978.

What is Harry Kewell’s net worth in 2025?
Most estimates place his net worth at around 19 to 20 million US dollars.

What is Harry Kewell doing now?
He is the head coach of Hanoi FC in Vietnams V League 1.

Which clubs did Harry Kewell play for?
He played for Leeds United, Liverpool, Galatasaray, Al Gharafa, Melbourne Victory and Melbourne Heart.

Is Harry Kewell married?
Yes, he has been married to English actress and presenter Sheree Murphy since 2002.