TOO KEWELL FOR SCHOOL
Aussie trailblazer Harry was my inspiration as teen.. now he’ll by my teacher says Mooy
HARRY KEWELL was famous as the star pupil by the time Aaron Mooy hit the same high school in New South Wales.
But the Celtic new Bhoy reckons the Australian legend will now be the perfect teacher at Parkhead.
There were plenty of reasons why Mooy was thrilled to land a deal with the Hoops but he admits the chance to catch up with a Socceroos hero is high up on the list.
The former Brighton and St Mirren midfielder has been following Kewell since he was a kid and doesn’t need to do his homework.
The Celts coach was the head boy in the Socceroos golden generation – the group of players who ended a 32-year wait to get to the World Cup in 2006 and then reached the knockout stages.
It was a collection of stars – including former Celtic ace Mark Viduka, Everton’s Tim Cahill and ex-Rangers hero Craig Moore – who were scattered across the globe and hit the big time in Europe.
Kewell led the way, becoming the first Aussie to play in a Champions League semi-final when he was with Leeds United and then the first to play – and win – a final with Liverpool in 2005.
The new Hoops backroom man still holds the record number of games in Europe for an Australian and has now added his experience to Ange Postecoglou’s dugout team.
Mooy couldn’t be happier to link up with his hero.
The 31-year-old spent his school days trying to follow the path the playmaker trod and he’s just as big an influence these days on the sidelines. Mooy said: “Yeah, we went to the same high school. He left before I got there but the school was like a sports school.
“In New South Wales, they do trials and stuff and select the best players then you go to the school and you get training and your subjects.
“There’s lots of extra training which helped a lot.
“Quite quickly, everyone found out Harry Kewell went there and then everyone wanted to go there too!
“He’s part of the Golden Generation, they call it in Australia. The team was full of players playing in the top leagues.
“They were regulars and they went further than any Australian team has gone in the World Cup.
“They inspired a lot in me and a lot of kids to play football. Growing up following football he was a megastar in Australian football and he did really well in his career.
“He had an amazing career and with the national team so he’s someone I’ve always looked up to.
“He’s started his coaching career and I’m sure he’ll learn a lot from Ange and bring his side to the team as well.”
Kewell will help Mooy settle in at Celtic – not that it should take too long.
The midfielder feels right at home in Scotland after meeting his future wife Nicola when he was at St Mirren more than a decade ago.
It’s wasn’t an easy time for the Aussie kid though. He’s moved across the world as a teenager to Bolton and then he shuffled up to Scotland.
He admits it was a tough learning curve as a youngster but there were some special moments – including a goal against now Old Firm rivals Rangers in a shock 2-1 win on Christmas Eve in 2011.
Mooy said: “It was my first professional league goal so it was a big moment. My brother and best mate were in the stand and in my celebration I’m pointing at them. They’d come over especially for that game and to see me so it was a special moment for me.
“It was a good experience at
St Mirren. It exposed me to what it is like in professional football.
“When you play reserve football, it’s not like you can go down or be relegated. That exposed me to that.
“It was a big eye-opener. Obviously I wasn’t that successful there but I think I’ve improved my mental side of the game, which is very important.
“Maybe then I was a little weak mentally and not resilient enough. Impatient, I’d probably say.
“These things you learn as you grow as a person and a footballer.”
Mooy headed back home after his Saints spell but he refused to give up on his dream of cracking Europe.
He eventually sealed a deal with Man City and then hit the heights with Huddersfield and Brighton as he emulated his hero Kewell in doing the business in the Premier League.
Mooy said: “It was always the plan for me to come back. That was my dream as a kid – to play in Europe, play at the highest level I could.
Everyone found out Harry went there, then everyone wanted to go AARON MOOY ON SCHOOL IN NEW SOUTH WALES
“Obviously a few years go by in Australia and you think ‘am I going to get the chance?’
“I was lucky enough to get another opportunity and I’m proud I got to play at a good level in the Premier League.”
Mooy is back in the big time with Celtic and he is hoping his move will catapult him towards the Qatar World Cup in November.
The playmaker – who has 52 caps – said: “The World Cup is in the back of my head just now. I don’t want to think about it too much because it’s a long time away.
“I have an amazing opportunity here at a big club so that’s what I’m focusing on.”