Australian football legend Harry Kewell will be taking centre stage at Old Trafford as he makes his Soccer Aid debut this weekend. The charity match, which has become a highlight in the annual sporting calendar, brings together a mix of celebrities and professional football stars to raise crucial funds for UNICEF. As always, the England team is set to face off against a formidable World XI side, with both teams boasting a mix of household names from the worlds of entertainment and football.
Kewell, aged 46, is representing Australia in this year’s World XI squad. Best known for his memorable stints at Leeds United and Liverpool, Kewell carved out a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most exciting wingers, celebrated for his pace and flair on the pitch. Although now pursuing a career in football management — his latest role sees him at the helm of Japan’s Yokohama F. Marinos — Kewell’s legacy as the only Australian man to play in a Champions League final endures. Over an impressive career, he won 58 international caps and represented the ‘Socceroos’ at two FIFA World Cups.
What is perhaps less widely known, however, is Kewell’s connection to British television royalty. During his time gracing English football’s top flight, Kewell met his future wife, actress Sheree Murphy, in a Leeds nightclub in 2000. At the time, Murphy was a familiar face on the UK’s TV screens thanks to her roles in popular soaps such as ‘Emmerdale’ and ‘Hollyoaks’, as well as memorable appearances on classic programmes like ‘Only Fools and Horses’ and the Australian mainstay ‘Neighbours’.
The couple quickly became one of sport and showbiz’s most recognisable pairings. They tied the knot in Las Vegas in 2002 and have since welcomed four children together: Taylor, Ruby, Matilda and Dolly. Their enduring marriage, which recently marked its 23rd year, has often attracted public attention — a fact Murphy has embraced with characteristic candour.
Indeed, Murphy has never shied away from discussing the realities of being married to a football star. During a chat on ‘Loose Women’, she playfully recounted how she reacts when female fans become a little too acquainted with Kewell, joking: “I’ll say ‘hello, I’m the wife’ if they go too far. Harry just starts sweating, he gets quite nervous!” This light-hearted approach has become a hallmark of her public persona, endearing her to many viewers.
One particularly memorable moment in their relationship played out live on TV during Murphy’s stint on ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!’ in 2005. In a now-famous exchange, Murphy left fellow campmates and viewers in stitches by claiming that Kewell “had a peachy bum”. The comment quickly found its way back to Kewell, then still a regular at Liverpool, making him the subject of much good-natured banter both on and off the pitch.
Reflecting on the moment after leaving the jungle, Murphy recalled her embarrassment when the story made headlines. “Oh God, I can’t even remember saying that,” she admitted to the Liverpool Echo. “But apparently on telly they’re still saying ‘a brilliant goal by peachy bum!'” She was relieved that Kewell took the joke in good humour, noting, “at least I was saying something nice — I wasn’t saying it was fat or anything!”
Such anecdotes highlight the couple’s light-hearted rapport and their ability to take fame, and its pressures, in stride. Their warm and open partnership, regularly on display during interviews and television appearances, has made them one of the more relatable celebrity couples in the UK and Australia.
As Harry Kewell prepares to step out at Old Trafford wearing the World XI shirt for Soccer Aid, it’s clear his story is about far more than footballing achievements. His enduring partnership with Sheree Murphy adds another chapter to his remarkable journey, blending sporting triumph with a touch of prime-time television flair — all in the name of a good cause.