Harry Kewell's apparent slight of the A-League may come as no surprise to those who know his manager, Bernie Mandic.

Mandic, who has managed Kewell since he was a teenager in western Sydney, has poured scorn on the national league several times in the past few years.

Harry Kewell's manager, Bernie Mandic, at a Socceroos function in 2008.

He also has a history of prolonging Kewell contract talks by denying his charge is heading to particular clubs - only for him to sign on days later.

The cigar-smoking and brash talking Mandic stumbled across Kewell while coaching a junior soccer team. It's understood he has never had a contract with his star player, who reportedly made him almost $5 million upfront when he signed with Liverpool from Leeds in 2003. Mandic has also represented Mark Viduka and other promising players such as Nathan Burns and Michael Thwaite.