Kewell encounter revives Istanbul memories
LAST Saturday’s game against Crawley Town may not have gone to plan, but Accrington Stanley manager John Coleman admits it was still a surreal moment sharing a dug out with Harry Kewell, 12 years after Coleman watched Kewell help his beloved Liverpool win the Champions League.
Liverpool fan Coleman was in Istanbul for the famous match, where Liverpool came back from 3-0 down at half-time to eventually defeat AC Milan on penalties and lift the trophy.
Kewell played for Liverpool in that match, and Coleman is pleased to now see the Australian in management with fellow League Two side Crawley after that special night.
“I was proud to be in Istanbul, it was a moment which stays in your life for its unusualness, the drama and excitement of it,” Coleman told the club’s official website.
“It was the icing on the cake as a Liverpool fan. I probably wouldn’t have guessed I would have been stood in a dug out next to Harry Kewell.
“He has got a lot of playing experience, he has a lot to pass onto his players, he knows how to win and knows how to win trophies. I think any ex-professional footballer is grateful to start in the league, it is difficult to get a job in the league as there are only 92 of them.
“Being in the lower leagues is an eye-opener. Being higher up, players are used to certain standards and a lot of time you have to make do at this level and take it warts and all. If you accept the warts and all those are the managers who tend to succeed.
“Crawley are probably one of the standard bearers in this league in that they are capable of winning on their day or they are being capable of losing.”