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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You missed the Asian Cup, citing you were “not physically fit enough” – considering how close we came to winning do you regret that decision? Could you have made it fitness-wise?
I could have been there, but from a physical point of view it would have been the wrong decision. I may have regretted the decision to go later in the season or even now if I was not as fit as I find myself. I think I made the right decision. There was obviously still part of me that wished I could have been there; especially for the final as you look on thinking you could have made a difference. In the long run though, the break I had has really paid off in terms of the condition of my body now.

With 15 goals in 27 Socceroo appearances you are sitting ahead of that ‘goal every other game’ ratio that strikers target – how secure do you feel in the Socceroos set-up and first 11 these days?
We have a whole squad now which allows the boss to pick the right team to win the next game. He does not need to play people for the sake of a name or just needing to play them. I need to show that I still want that starting position, so I am always trying to impress the coach as much as I can. The decision is his though and if I play, then I try to do my job.

There are plenty of emerging potential Socceroos strikers, like Robbie Kruse, James Troisi, Mathew Leckie, Alex Brosque, Nikita Rukavytsya – is that a threat for you?
I do not see that as a threat – the process we go through now to qualify for the World Cup is a long one, so we need a range of strikers to play those games. It does not help anyone if one or two of our strikers get injured and there is no-one there to provide back-up. It is great to see so much talent coming through and each one of those players offers something different to the team with their ability. I see myself as offering something different to those guys.

As you mention, you remain Australia’s only proven target man – is that reassuring?
I don’t need reassurance or anything like that. I guess I am specific in what I can do and offer. Holger [Osieck] also knows what I can and can’t do and how he wants to use me. Recently that has been paying off.

That said there seemed to be some criticism of you and Tim Cahill playing together – considering Timmy’s stature and reputation is that a concern? Can you play together?
We have played together in the past, so I don’t think one poor game [versus Thailand] where we did not function together, or the team did not function too well, is an indication that we can’t play together. Timmy and I spoke after that game and we knew we stepped on each other’s toes a little bit. But I am sure we will get other opportunities to play together and cause plenty of problems for other teams.

Who, or what type of player, is the ideal strike partner for you?
It depends who, and where, we are playing. Plus what formation we are using. I am classed as the big man and people think there should be a little man next to me. But it all depends on the occasion and our approach.

Speaking of smaller strike partners, would Scott McDonald be an ideal foil for you if given time?
That’s the biggest aspect – ‘if given time’. We have had maybe one game together in the past couple of years where we have both started. I would love to play with Scotty, he is
a hard-working little man. The next time we are in camp, we will discover what Holger thinks. Hopefully if we get together in training we can show what we can do.

A common comment about you is that when you play, Australia ends up playing a more direct style. Is that fair?
If you look at the Thailand game everyone would say yes, if you looked at the Saudi game everyone would say no. Nobody in the team is saying: ‘Josh is playing, let’s hit long balls to him’. The key aspect is getting balls into the box from the right positions. Nobody likes to see a long ball from the defender to the striker.

Holger has been complimentary of you and your current form, how have you found him?
From my time in Germany, I have gained an understanding of his mentality and what he wants from me. So far it is working out quite well and it has been a good experience.

Has he spoken to you much one-on-one?
A little bit. After or before training we have a little chat sometimes. He might have some comments on the game or the training session.

Holger has struck us a relaxed and actually quite funny character.
He loves a joke! It is quite funny when he has a lot of English sayings that aren’t quite right! I can’t think of any examples off the top of my head. He is very nice to get along with. 

It is a lengthy process qualifying for a World Cup, but how much does getting to play in Brazil drive your game?
It is definitely that light at the end of the tunnel. It is the reward for years of hard work. Especially coming in the later part of my career, to play in a third World Cup would be a massive personal achievement.  

Josh was speaking to us as an ambassador for Qantas.

This article appeared in the December 2011 issue of Australian FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.

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