Why is the new head coach of Hanoi called 'lucky god' at Liverpool?

Many Vietnamese fans, even around the world, were excited when Hanoi FC appointed former football star Harry Kewell as head coach.

Harry Kewell in Liverpool shirt - Photo: LFC

Miserable because of injury

Before taking the position of head coach of Hanoi FC, the name Harry Kewell was very familiar to football fans around the world, especially Liverpool fans. He had a very sweet 5-year period with the team in the English port city.

While playing for Liverpool, Kewell won the 2005 Champions League and the 2006 FA Cup. These are also the two most prestigious collective titles that the former Australian player has ever achieved in Europe.

Kewell was not very good at Liverpool. In 5 seasons, he played 139 games and scored only 16 goals. This was an average result compared to the transfer fee of nearly 10 million USD that Liverpool paid in 2003, a quite high amount at that time.

Kewell's Liverpool career was not smooth sailing mainly due to the constant injuries that the former Australian striker suffered.

For Kewell himself, the most unfortunate injury was when he had to leave the field in the 23rd minute of the legendary 2005 Champions League final.

But it was also from this match that the nickname "Luckwell" (a name - Lucky Kewell) was born. Fans noticed that, whenever Kewell entered the field, got injured and left the field, the team would... win.

In that year's Champions League final, when Kewell left the pitch, Liverpool were trailing 1-0. They lost by two more goals.

In their frustration at the loss, many Liverpool fans took their anger out on Kewell. Many booed him in the stands, believing the Australian star was faking his injury.

The reason was that in that match, coach Rafael Benitez took a gamble by using Kewell instead of defensive midfielder Dietmar Hamann, and the Australian striker was also forced to drop deeper, playing out of his preferred position.

But then the magical night in Istanbul took the football world by surprise. Liverpool lost 0-3 in the first half, then equalized 3-3 in the second half, before winning the penalty shootout to win the Champions League. One of the most memorable matches in football.

Harry Kewell lifts the Champions League trophy - Photo: IC

In the euphoric atmosphere of victory, Liverpool fans were also more tolerant. No one blamed Kewell anymore, especially when at the end of the season they knew what Kewell had been through.

Throughout the 2004-05 season, the Australian star played with a sports hernia that was not diagnosed at the time. According to manager Benitez, Kewell gritted his teeth and played the entire season, which partly explained his poor form.

After this information was revealed, many Liverpool fans "turned around" to enthusiastically support Kewell, praising him as a symbol of the team's overcoming difficulties.

The God of Luck

And not only that, Kewell's lucky streak continued the following season. This time in the 2006 FA Cup final.

A similar scenario played out. Liverpool were 0-2 down in the 28th minute, before Cisse reduced the deficit to 1-2 in the 32nd minute. Then in the 48th minute, he was taken off the field due to... a stomach ache.

6 minutes later, Liverpool equalized 2-2. They lost 2-3, then equalized 3-3 with Steven Gerrard's goal in the 90+1 minute. The triumphant song of 2005 was repeated, Liverpool once again won the cup with a 3-3 draw and a penalty shootout victory.

"Harry Kewell - our lucky god", many Liverpool fans chanted the Australian player's name after the match. Kewell coming on and then leaving the field due to injury became a "championship formula" for Liverpool.

Kewell (left) sadly left the field in the FA Cup final - Photo: AR

In fairness, Kewell did have a lot to do with that title triumph, being named man of the match in the semi-final against Chelsea.

The FA Cup final was also the last time Liverpool fans saw a relatively healthy Harry Kewell at Anfield.

The following season, persistent groin injuries, including a hernia, limited Kewell to just three appearances, and a further 15 the following season.

In the summer of 2008, Kewell left Liverpool at the age of 30 to move to Galatasaray. In Turkey, the Australian star regained some of his form, continuing to play football for a while before retiring in his home country in 2014.

Kewell's career may not have been as glittering, but it will always be remembered for its interesting stories, extraordinary efforts, and glorious triumphs.

On the morning of October 4, Hanoi FC announced Harry Kewell as the new coach of the team after firing the Japanese coach. The capital team has been going through a difficult period for the past 2-3 years, many foreign coaches have "left" because of the team's unsatisfactory performance.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-tan-hlv-truong-ha-noi-duoc-goi-la-than-may-man-o-liverpool-20251004111539659.htm