Harry Kewell has welcomed the scrutiny that comes with his burgeoning coaching career.
The Caltex Socceroos icon has been working with the under-21 side at English Premier League club Watford as he carves out his post-playing life in the game which brought him fame and fortune.
PRESSURE OF COACHING
“It’s part of the job,” he told reporters during a trip to Sydney to promote June’s Confederations Cup.
“I’ve been in this game for long enough to understand it, but it excites me.
“Regardless if other people are criticising you or not, you put pressure on yourself.
“You have it as a player and I’ve seen that difference as a manager.”
Kewell brought the curtain down on his decorated playing career in April 2014 and after working with junior players in Australia, took his UEFA ‘B’ and ‘A’ licenses before taking on his current role at Watford.
COACHING CHALLENGES KEWELL
“It’s a completely different career to what I’m used to but I enjoy the challenge,” said Kewell.
“I love it, I enjoy it. It’s tough.
“I feel like I’m improving every day.
“I’m coming across different challenges every day and the challenges that I’m solving.”
And Kewell’s fierce ambition as a player has carried over into what he hopes will be a coaching career at the highest level.
And there are many in Australia who would love to see him take a coaching job in the Hyundai A-League.
“I can’t wait to kind of step it up but I’ve still got to learn my trade.
“If I find things are getting too easy, that’s when I must push myself to go further.
“At the moment I’m finding enough problems within my own self that I can work on to make better so that if I did make that grade, I’m prepared more.”