Liverpool go for the Socceroos' doctor
Sydney Morning Herald
Wednesday March 31, 2010
LESS than two months after Harry Kewell's agent labelled the medical treatment dished out to the star striker by former club Liverpool as a "disgrace", the English giants appear to have heeded the message, appointing an Australian to lead their medical program.Dr Peter Brukner has been enlisted by the Reds as their new head of sports medicine and sports science from next month, and will spend the remainder of the English Premier League season monitoring the club's medical program.Brukner will then head to South Africa to oversee the Socceroos' medical preparations for the World Cup, his last duty as the national team's chief doctor. Once those commitments are wound up, he will return to Liverpool to take up his role."It's obviously a big move for me but it's a great challenge and I'd like to think I can make a difference and I'm looking forward to it," Brukner told ABC Radio. "I'll be heading over for the last month of the EPL season just to observe how the club works and see what we can to put in place for next season."In an interview earlier this year with the Herald, Kewell's agent, Bernie Mandic, ridiculed the treatment handed out to his client, saying he would have been in much better physical shape had Liverpool allowed him to seek treatment in Australia, where he said the "best medical staff in the world" existed."I think we're very fortunate in Australia. I think in many ways Australia leads the world in sports medicine and I guess that's reflected by my appointment," Brukner said. "Liverpool tell me they did a worldwide search and basically decided that Australian sports medicine was the best in the world and that's why they wanted an Australian there."We'll be putting into place pretty much what many of the top clubs have done here and what we've done with the Socceroos - getting a high-quality and dedicated staff there. We think we can make a difference."Brukner said it was his extensive background in several different sports - including athletics, hockey, swimming and, in particular, AFL - that impressed his new employers.Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said Brukner's departure would leave a difficult hole to fill, but his appointment reflected well on Australia and its standing in sports medicine at a global level.
© 2010 Sydney Morning Herald