Emperor Kennedy

Indisputably the Socceroos’ best striker at the moment, we chat with J.League goal-getter Josh Kennedy about his run of red-hot club and country scoring form.

The flowing locks of the one-time Jesus look-a-like have gone, but there is no need for a superstitious growing out phase as the goalscoring exploits have continued for Socceroos striker Josh Kennedy.   

Indeed, they have kicked on to new levels for the 29-year-old, as he has backed up his J.League Golden Boot and Championship title last season with a similar vein of form this term. At the time of writing, Kennedy has scored 15 goals in 25 J.League appearances this season and sits top of the scoring charts once again.

He has truly established himself as the finest striker in Asia’s best league.Kennedy’s J.League form has been taken into the Socceroos realm too; since June he has struck eight goals in the green and gold, making him our most important goal-getting outlet as Australia seek to make a third consecutive World Cup finals. We wanted to discover the key to his success, so Kennedy popped into our offices for a photo and a chat about being big in Japan and firing the Socceroos to Brazil 2014.  

Josh, you are on fire in the J.League at the minute. How come the scoring is going so well?
A combination of many things. The team is playing good football and the majority of the team have been together for a few years now. They know how I play and vice-versa. I have also been taking my chances when I get them.

You have been in Japan a while now. How have you been enjoying the culture,  and what about the language?
There are a few barriers, with the language being the first one. It can be quite challenging, but at the same time it can be good to not know what’s going on! We live normally, we go out to dinner and we basically live life as we would in Australia – it’s good!

How has the shorter hair changed things? Do you miss the Jesus comparisons?!
No, I don’t miss it! The first few weeks after I got it cut I was still trying to run my hands through my hair like I used to and I would think ‘oh Jesus, there is nothing there anymore’! It has been a fair while now and that phase of my life is over.

Considering how good your form has been, is a move back to Europe something you have pondered?
Not at the moment – I am happy in Japan. I like to take things step-by-step and not look too far into the future. That said, if a possibility comes up I will look at it then. But at the moment I am happy where I am.

At 29, is that something that would need to have happen in the next year or two?
I know I’m getting older at 29 now, but I still feel quite young in my mind. So as I said, if something happens we will take it from there.

It is hard to predict, but can you see yourself being the type of player who plays on well into his 30s?
It has only been in the last couple of years in the wake of my injury after the 2006 World Cup that I have realised that you do have to look after your body and take care of yourself if you want a full career. As long as I’m playing good football and scoring goals, then I will keep playing. Once you reach a point when you can’t compete or do what you want, then you have to take a step back and see where things are.

As for the Socceroos, you have taken your domestic form into the World Cup qualifiers – how much does club form help when you join up with the national team?
It is a massive help. Especially being a striker, confidence means a lot. You have those runs of form where every shot is a goal and then you have the opposite end of the scale where nothing goes in. I have been feeling fit and have been taking my chances.

Known for your headed goals – your last four Socceroo goals have been with your feet...
In Japan I don’t score every goal with my head either. I probably score more goals with my feet. I suppose for the Australian perspective, they might have only seen me score with my head, so that goal might have come as a small surprise. Scoring with my feet is definitely part of my game and since I have been in Japan I have certainly improved with my feet technically. I have been pleased to take those chances all the same.

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