Former Liverpool Star Harry Kewell Will Not Suit Up For Australia, Signs Up With Turkish Club

Sydney, Australia (AHN) - Former Liverpool star Harry Kewell has ruled out playing for his native country Australia in the Beijing Olympic Games next month and has signified his intention of pursuing a career with Turkey's Galatasaray.

The 29-year-old Socceroos star, who was earlier made available for free transfer, will not be suiting up for the Australian squad that will compete in the Summer Games in Beijing this August. Instead, Kewell has agreed on a three-year deal with the Turkish champions Galatasaray after being hampered with injuries for five seasons at Anfield.

With the imminent departure of Kewell, Australia's Olyroos will be left with Archie Thompson, David Carney and Jade North as three over-age players in the 18-man Australian under-23 squad headed for Beijing next month. Of all the players in the squad, only North will be making his second Olympic trip.

The Olyroos squad will be vying on improving its seventh finish in the 2004 Athens Olympics but it will have to give its best as they are currently grouped with Ivory Coast, Serbia and Olympic champions Argentina.