They love Harry Kewell in Istanbul - at least the parts of town that support Galatasaray.
Outside the Ali Sami Yen Stadium before a game last weekend, most fans were in agreement. Harry Kewell? Love him. They even have a song about how much they love him. The words are simple: Harry Kewell, over and over and over.
Kewell is different to other foreign imports, they said. Mainly, and this was a continuing theme over the next few days in Istanbul, the Australian was so professional.
He worked hard, he did his job, he stayed out of the spotlight, he was a family man (this point was important, it seemed).
Then there was the female Galatasaray fan, drinking beer in a stadium back street with her friends and a group of boys (this is in so-called conservative Turkey, remember) who said, bursting into laughter: "What I want to say about Harry Kewell is best not said in public."
We turned off the camera (I was with a TV crew) and she boldly told us what she wanted to say. She was right. It is best not said - nor written - in public.
But after last Thursday's UEFA Cup match against Hamburg, they love Kewell even more.
With the score at 1-1 just after half-time, Galatasaray defender Emre Asik was sent off. Who stuck up his hand to volunteer as a centre-back? Don't tell Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek whatever you do. It was Harry Kewell.
In front of Australia's assistant coach Henk Duut, former Socceroo Ned Zelic, and scouts from European clubs keeping an eye on his complete rehabilitation after the trauma of Liverpool, Kewell superbly marshalled the Cim Bom (as Galatasaray is also known) defence and kept Hamburg from scoring again.
Galatasaray coach Bulent Korkmaz was so impressed by Kewell's improvisation that he pulled our guy aside after the game and asked him to consider taking on the role again in this week's up-coming second-leg at home.
Bulent's opinion matters. Although not so successful as a coach at other clubs, he is a legend at Galatasaray, known as "Braveheart" for the entire career he spent in the middle of the team's defence.
He played the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, famously won by Galatasaray against Arsenal, with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder. It's fair to say he knows his defenders.
So more twists and turns in the career of Harry Kewell. The legend grows. Next up, maybe the best bet for Mark Schwarzer's rival has been under our nose all along.
Has anybody asked Harry if he can play in goal?
Outside the Ali Sami Yen Stadium before a game last weekend, most fans were in agreement. Harry Kewell? Love him. They even have a song about how much they love him. The words are simple: Harry Kewell, over and over and over.
Kewell is different to other foreign imports, they said. Mainly, and this was a continuing theme over the next few days in Istanbul, the Australian was so professional.
He worked hard, he did his job, he stayed out of the spotlight, he was a family man (this point was important, it seemed).
Then there was the female Galatasaray fan, drinking beer in a stadium back street with her friends and a group of boys (this is in so-called conservative Turkey, remember) who said, bursting into laughter: "What I want to say about Harry Kewell is best not said in public."
We turned off the camera (I was with a TV crew) and she boldly told us what she wanted to say. She was right. It is best not said - nor written - in public.
But after last Thursday's UEFA Cup match against Hamburg, they love Kewell even more.
With the score at 1-1 just after half-time, Galatasaray defender Emre Asik was sent off. Who stuck up his hand to volunteer as a centre-back? Don't tell Socceroos coach Pim Verbeek whatever you do. It was Harry Kewell.
In front of Australia's assistant coach Henk Duut, former Socceroo Ned Zelic, and scouts from European clubs keeping an eye on his complete rehabilitation after the trauma of Liverpool, Kewell superbly marshalled the Cim Bom (as Galatasaray is also known) defence and kept Hamburg from scoring again.
Galatasaray coach Bulent Korkmaz was so impressed by Kewell's improvisation that he pulled our guy aside after the game and asked him to consider taking on the role again in this week's up-coming second-leg at home.
Bulent's opinion matters. Although not so successful as a coach at other clubs, he is a legend at Galatasaray, known as "Braveheart" for the entire career he spent in the middle of the team's defence.
He played the 2000 UEFA Cup Final, famously won by Galatasaray against Arsenal, with his arm in a sling after dislocating his shoulder. It's fair to say he knows his defenders.
So more twists and turns in the career of Harry Kewell. The legend grows. Next up, maybe the best bet for Mark Schwarzer's rival has been under our nose all along.
Has anybody asked Harry if he can play in goal?
So he's not a crock anymore? We could do with him in our team to be honest
RAFA 
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