Harry Kewell, the star of the Socceroos and Melbourne Victory, has parted ways with his long-time manager, Bernie Mandic.
Since Kewell was a young talent in Sydney’s West, Mandic has been at the helm of his career, facilitating Kewell’s transfer to Leeds United in the Barclays Premier League and managing his subsequent moves to Liverpool, Galatasaray, and the A-League.
This news adds to a challenging week for Victory, which saw football director Francis Awaritefe depart the club on Tuesday. Following that, managing director Richard Wilson reported that Kewell was poised to appoint Argentine legend Abel Balbo as his personal coach and mentor.
Recently, Harry has faced some criticism regarding his situation with Bernie and some negotiations over recent months, leading to this breaking point.
The relationship between Bernie and Harry has been almost like that of a father and son, making this a significant decision. Over the years, Bernie has greatly influenced Harry’s career, including securing that substantial deal with Liverpool. While it’s a big decision, it aligns with what’s best for Harry and his club.
Now that Harry has reached an age where this will likely be his final contract, he finds that he doesn’t necessarily require a manager, and this shift will help bring calm to his situation. I’ve heard that his wife, Sheree, along with the well-known public relations expert Ann Peacock, will step into his management moving forward.
by Buford Balony
