Former Celtic coach, Harry Kewell, shook off the shackles this season and decided to be his own man by taking the top job at Yokohama F Marinos.
A superstar in his playing days at Liverpool and Leeds United, Kewell hung up his boots in 2014 and went into coaching a year later as Watford’s U21 coach.
Fast forward to 2022 and with four clubs worth of experience behind him, Kewell joined the Ange Postecoglou revolution at Celtic and helped his fellow Australian take the Parkhead club to a record-breaking eighth domestic treble.
A few months into Brendan Rodgers’ tenure, Yokohama came calling and Kewell decided that now was the time to become his own man. He was hired by the J League club on the 31st of December 2023.
And now, over six months in, the fans have started to deliver their verdict on Kewell’s side and it doesn’t look good.
Harry Kewell soundly booed after Yokohama’s latest home defeat
At first, it seemed as though he was enjoying a successful start with Yokohama as he led the club to the Asian Champions League final.
However, the 10-man Marinos were crushed 5-1 in the final and it seems they haven’t recovered from that. After their latest 2-1 home loss to Tokyo Verdy, Kewell and his team were subjected to a chorus of boos from the home fans and the former Celtic coach had to be led away.
Yokohama currently sit 12th in the J League just nine points from the relegation zone but a massive 17 points from league leaders, Machida. [Flashscore]
With a home fixture against Sagan Tosu, Kewell must ensure a win or he will be sucked into the relegation battle, especially when he is up against third-placed, Gamba Osaka the following week with league leaders, Machida up on the 20th of July.
It’s a far cry from the heady days of dominating Scottish football picking up medal after medal and playing against the cream of Europe in the Champions League.
The next four weeks for Kewell will be crucial for his Yokohama future because if he doesn’t pick up points in his next three games and exits the Emperor’s Cup against J2 League side Mito HollyHock, the Australian could find himself under real pressure and fighting for his job.