Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell has passed up the opportunity to play for Australia at the Beijing Olympics to pursue a club career with Turkey’s Galatasaray.
The Galatasaray Web site yesterday reported that the Australian international had signed a three-year deal with the Turkish giants after five injury-plagued seasons at Anfield.
The move to Galatasaray has ended any possibility of Kewell being one of Australia’s three over-age players at the Beijing Olympics.
PHOTO: AP
Socceroos Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North are the three over-age players in the 18-man Australian under-23 squad for next month’s Games.
During his time with Leeds, Kewell played against Galatasaray in the UEFA Cup semi-final in 2000, when he was sent off.
Defender North and wing-back Carney played in Australia’s World Cup qualifiers last month, while striker Thompson is recovering from a knee injury.
Coach Graham Arnold overlooked the claims of promising former Adelaide United strike pair, Bruce Djite and Nathan Burns, who have signed for overseas clubs.
“It is a real honor to be picked to go to Beijing,” North, an Athens Olympian, said.
After finishing seventh in Athens, North wants to see Australia achieve more this time round.
“I feel like I have been given another chance and I want to go all the way this time,” North said.
Arnold said the three over-age players would bring international experience to the under-23 team in Beijing.
“The three over-age players will bring both attacking flair and strong defense to the team,” he said.
The Australian squad contains seven overseas-based players.
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