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Note: There has been more than one player with the same name to have played for Celtic. So please check the other namesakes if need be.
Personal
Fullname: John Kennedy
aka: JFK
Born: 18 August 1983
Birthplace: Bellshill, Scotland
Signed: 20 August 1999
Left: 13 November 2009 (retired from playing)
Debut: Celtic 4-0 Motherwell, League, 5 Apr 2000
Position: Defender, Central Defender
Internationals: Scotland
International Caps: 1
Interim Manager: 10 Feb 2021-17 May 2021, 5 Jun 2023 – 19 Jun 2023
Backroom roles: Coach, Assistant manager, Interim Manager
Biog![[Untitled]](https://wikifoundryimages.s3.amazonaws.com/cd40949ebb5050bdf76a8a0958b69c8e "[Untitled]")
John Kennedy was a product of Celtic’s Youth Academy and grandson of former Celtic great Jimmy Delaney. Considered by many to be one of the best prospects to emerge from Celtic Park in recent years, the young central defender’s progress was dogged by a succession of career threatening knee injuries.
Signed as a 15 year old on the same day as teammate Stephen McManus, John Kennedy made his first team debut against Motherwell on 5 April 2000 at the age of 16 years and 231 days – a record at the time. He would make a total of 5 first team appearances that season under caretaker manager Kenny Dalglish.
The arrival of Martin O’Neill as manager in the summer of 2000 saw Kennedy drop back into the reserves to learn his trade, with the defender making only a handful of first team appearances over the next 3 seasons, but things were to change.
The 2003/2004 season saw the young defender’s star rise, before falling to earth with a sickening crunch. While Kennedy had been a regular in first team squads for a number of years, the strapping centre half was thrust into first team action on a number of occasions towards the end of 2003, making his Champions League debut against Lyon and scoring his first goal for the club in the 3-2 win over Dundee at Celtic Park 3 days later. Kennedy seemed to grow in stature with every passing game and by March of 2004 the defender had turned in a number of near flawless performances.
The performance that sealed his cult status was a towering display against Barcelona in the Nou Camp. Celtic had been written off despite going to Barcelona with a 1-0 home lead. John Kennedy had the unenviable task of tackling a top European side with the main Celtic defender out (Bobo Balde) and a novice goalkeeper behind him (David Marshall). Together with David Marshall, the two of them played out of their skins to seal a no score draw that won Celtic a place in the next round. He was simply immense! He was a hero and deserving of all the praise that came to him.
Then came a match against Rangers only three days later, and was given a rousing reception by the Celtic away support as he was awarded a starting place in the side. Celtic won 2-1 and it was onwards and upwards for John Kennedy. He seemed destined to become a fixture of the Celtic first team for years to come, and Kennedy was rewarded with his first international cap for Scotland against Romania at Hampden on 31 March 2004.
An incredible seven days, being lauded playing European football away against a premier side, a victory at Ibrox and now playing his first match for Scotland. The run was to come to a shuddering halt.
During the Scotland match v Romania, as John Kennedy slid in to tackle Romanian player Ioan Viorel Ganea, the Romanian viciously stamped on John Kennedy’s left knee, causing severe damage to the defender’s cruciate ligament. The foul was reckless, unnecessary and simply assault. It was painful for the support to see this as well, but most importantly was that many feared for his career even at this point. Sadly the Scotland game was to be the last first team game the defender would play for more than 3 years.
All the support in the world was given by Celtic. John Kennedy’s knee was operated on several times by renowned American surgeon Dr Richard Steadman and on October 2005, after a period of intense rehabilitation, the defender resumed training with the first team squad. However John Kennedy suffered a recurrence of the knee injury soon after and went under the knife again to undergo a “tightening up” procedure. The defender showed great mental strength to recover from this massive setback, and returned to training in late 2006. A number of reserve team appearance seemed to show that Kennedy had made a full recovery, and the 23 year old was named on the bench in several first team games including Celtic’s Champions League match against AC Milan on the 20th of February 2007.
On 22nd of April 2007 an injury to Stephen McManus saw John Kennedy make his return to first team action alongside Steven Pressley in what would turn out to be the league decider. Celtic ran out 2-1 winners on the day to clinch their second successive Premier League Title, with John Kennedy turning in a confident display at the heart of the defence.
He went on to make a further two appearances for the first team as the season wound down. The 2007/2008 season was again a mixture a highs and lows for John Kennedy. The defender started the season opener alongside club captain Stephen McManus, as Celtic laboured to a 0-0 draw with Kilmarnock. John Kennedy went on to make another 13 appearances for the first team that season, as he began to show glimpses of the player he was before his horrific injury.
However a miserable night against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League was to be defender’s last appearance that season as injury struck again. John Kennedy landed awkwardly after challenging for a high ball, damaging his lateral meniscus and the posterior lateral complex of his left knee. The injury ruled him out for the rest of the season.
In July 2008, after speculation he would be going to Motherwell on loan, John Kennedy agreed to join Norwich City on a 6 month loan deal up to January 2009. After a fair spell (where he even managed to score a goal), disaster occurred once again after further damaging his troubled knee in December 2008 which hastened a return to Celtic.
Celtic stood by Kennedy throughout but there was just so much that John Kennedy or anyone can really take. In November 2009, John Kennedy announced his premature retirement from senior football on medical grounds at 26. It should have been the prime of his career.
His playing career was over before it had really started. Too often players in similar situations have been praised beyond recognition, but in John Kennedy’s case there is a genuine case to bemoan his circumstances. His performances in his short great spell in 2004 were exemplary, and it is no exaggeration to believe that he would have had a great chance to make a name for himself in time.
Sadly, an ugly piece of thuggery destroyed his football career and we can only imagine the devastation and hurt that he and his family have gone through.
The club rectified the situation and made him a valuable member of staff, and in January 2010 the club announced that John Kennedy would take on a role as first team scout, a move much welcomed and appreciated by all.
A wonderful testimonial was held in his honour in 2011:
2011-08-09: Celtic Legends 5-2 Manchester Utd Legends, Friendly
Post-Playing Career
It was announced in August 2011 that John Kennedy would take over from Steve Fraill in managing the U19s squad along with Tommy McIntyre see: “giving Tommy McIntyre and John Kennedy’s side a perfect start in their title defence.” http://www.celticfc.net/newsstory?item=1409
He was to be a key member of the staff through Celtic’s second nine in a row run, and was very well spoken of by the players and peers.
In February 2019, he was announced to work as the assistant manager for the interim with Neil Lennon who had taken over as interim manager following the unexpected sudden departure of Brendan Rodgers. Subsequently he kept the role once Lennon was made permanent. He answered well on why he chose to stay:
“There wasn’t a moment when I might have gone too. I’ve had a really close attachment with Celtic. A lot of people say it and that kind of stuff, but I’ve spent a large chunk of my life here in terms of being a player and working behind the scenes.”
He helped to continue on the good work, and Celtic completed the incredible quadruple-treble but it all fell apart in the covid-impacted season of 2020/21.
In Feb 2021, he was made the interim manager at Celtic after Neil Lennon ‘resigned’ after a disastrous season to date in 2020/21 where Celtic surrendered the league title in the challenge for ten in a row. John Kennedy was under the flak as part of Lennon’s coaching team, especially as the defence was a shambles, something that many expected that Kennedy would have some expertise in to coach. He was to retain his role for the interim period to assist the board in the search for a new manager.
Not a comfortable situation taking over as interim manager from Lennon, and in truth nobody was convinced even before the first kick-off that Kennedy would be the appropriate choice for the permanent position.
He had a strong loyalty to Celtic, and this was his short window for the top position. In truth, it was asking too much to turn it around in a short time, and the performances remained mostly low par, including a 1-1 draw with Sevco where again the Celtic first team shot themselves in the foot. His record wasn’t stellar with no wins in away matches and four drawn matches.
A comprehensive 4-1 defeat in an admittedly dead rubber league match v Sevco, sealed his fate for any ambitions to take the Celtic managerial role as some outlets were claiming. Despite the difficulties, as a person he handled everything professionally and in a dignified manner. It was a thankless task. He was in the role longer than expected as initial choice Eddie Howe strung Celtic along until Eddie Howe pulled out of contention.
Ange Postetcoglu was appointed as the new manager in June 2021, and John Kennedy remained on board, admittedly despite the sniping from certain sections of the support whose numbers declined as the Postecoglou reign turned things round.
He was a mainstay across various managers and coaching setups so must have been doing something right despite the snipers.
Add to that, when Postecoglou moved to Spurs he tried to entice Kennedy to follow him, but then once Brendan Rodgers returned to Celtic, Rodgers wanted Kennedy to stay! Two big votes of confidence in Kennedy in a tug of war for his services. He opted to remain at Celtic even though initial reports were that he wanted to move south.
[…]
Playing Career
| Club | From | To | Fee | League | Scottish Cup | League cup | Other | ||||
| Norwich | 01/08/2008 | 14/12/2008 | Loan | 15 (1) | 2 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 | 0 (0) | 0 |
| Celtic | 20/08/1999 | 13/11/2009 | Youth | 19 (9) | 1 | 1 (1) | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 7 (3) | 0 |
| Totals | £0 | 34 (10) | 3 | 1 (1) | 0 | 4 (1) | 0 | 7 (3) | 0 | ||
| goals / game | 0.06 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
Honours with Celtic as a player
Quotes
“I don’t know about John but that doesn’t mean a great deal to myself. It’s all right coming out with an apology afterwards but the lad’s career is in jeopardy. The lunge was utterly uncalled for.”
Martin O’Neill on the challenge that destroyed John Kennedy’s career
“We thank John for everything he has given us – the club will be doing all it can to provide John with as much support as possible.”
Peter Lawell (on his retirement)
“There wasn’t a moment when I might have gone too. I’ve had a really close attachment with Celtic. A lot of people say it and that kind of stuff, but I’ve spent a large chunk of my life here in terms of being a player and working behind the scenes.”
John Kennedy on why he chose to stay with Celtic and not move with Brendan Rodgers down south (Feb 2019)
“In my whole career and life, I don’t have regrets. I very much evaluate any decision I make and I go with it, I fully commit and then what will be, will be. I trust myself to make the right decision. You always reflect on it and question things but certainly at this time that’s nothing to do with it at all. I have dedicated everything in my time and life to do the best for the club, so that’s the same for now in terms of the situation we find ourselves in now. It’s about what’s right for the club and not my agenda and what’s good for me.”
John Kennedy (2021)
“The club has asked me to step in and take charge of the team which I’m more than happy to do. But ultimately it’s not about me, it’s about doing the right thing for both the team and the club.”
John Kennedy (Feb 2021)
“A special mention also to John Kennedy, the most important person for me during my time at Celtic. Without him, we would never win the quadruple treble.”
Kris Ajer on his depature (Jul 2021)
“I wanted John to be with me as we move forward. He is a very talented coach, someone I know well and respect and he will be very important to myself and our players.”
Brendan Rodgers on John Kennedy (June 2023)
[….]
Pictures
Matches
- UEFA Cup: Barcelona 0 Celtic 0 2004
- Testimonial: 2011-08-09: Celtic Legends 5-2 Manchester Utd Legends, Friendly
KDS
Articles
John Kennedy forced to retire from football
Newsroom Staff
IT is with great regret that Celtic Football Club has to announce today that defender John Kennedy has been forced to retire from football.
The 26-year-old defender came through the Youth Academy at Celtic Park and over the past 10 years made 45 appearances for the club, scoring one goal.
Everyone at Celtic Football Club and the whole Celtic family is saddened at the news and wishes John and his family all the best for the future.
John Kennedy said: “It is with great regret that I have made this decision. However, given the medical advice which I received, this is the right decision.
Manager Tony Mowbray said: “For John, his family and indeed everyone at the club, this is extremely sad news.
Heartache for John Kennedy as injury ends his career at 26
The Scotsman
Published Date: 14 November 2009
JOHN Kennedy’s battle to recover from his ongoing knee problem has come to an end after he reluctantly called time on his playing career yesterday.
The 26-year-old Celtic defender, who came through the youth academy at Parkhead, acted on medical advice to officially retire from the game.
Kennedy’s injury woes dated back more than five years to his international debut for Scotland in a friendly against Romania at Hampden in March 2004, when he suffered a serious knee ligament injury following a reckless challenge by Romania striker Ionel Ganea. It turned out to be his one and only cap.
He was out of the first team at Celtic for over three years and underwent several operations before returning to action on 22 April, 2007, to help Celtic clinch the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title with a 2-1 victory at Kilmarnock.
Kennedy signed a new three-year contract four days later, but in November of the same year he was stretchered off during a Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park with further damage to the same knee.
It proved to be his last game for the club.
Kennedy began a loan spell at Norwich City last summer but returned to Glasgow at the end of the year after again damaging his knee and, ultimately, he was unable to come through another period of rehabilitation, leading to yesterday’s decision.
manager Tony Mowbray, who has been unable to select the player since arriving from West Brom in the summer, described the news of Kennedy’s retirement as “tragic”.
chief executive Peter Lawwell harked back to Kennedy’s impressive performance in the goalless draw against Barcelona in the Nou Camp just a week before his injury against Romania.
Scotland manager George Burley, who was speaking in Cardiff ahead of today’s friendly against Wales, added his sympathies. “It’s really sad for the boy,” said Burley.
John Kennedy: ‘It’s a dream’ to manage Celtic after starting as a ‘boot boy’
By Brian McLauchlin
BBC Scotland
From the section Celtic 95
‘It’s a dream’ to manage Celtic one day
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47502974
John Kennedy says it is his “dream” to manage Celtic, but insists his immediate focus remains on helping Neil Lennon complete the club’s third straight domestic treble.
A former Celtic defender whose career was curtailed by a spate of serious injuries, Kennedy has worked his way through the coaching ranks at the Scottish champions.
He is now Lennon’s assistant after the Northern Irishman replaced Brendan Rodgers last month.
Kennedy, 35, tells BBC Scotland about becoming Celtic’s youngest player at 16, being told he would never play again a decade later, and his lofty ambitions as a burgeoning coach.
Teenage Kennedy snorted in the face of Kenny McDowall when the former Celtic youth coach told him he was to train with the first team, at the time managed by Kenny Dalglish.
“I was getting some cereal at the breakfast bar and laughed at him, ‘aye, right’, and walked away. He had to come after me and say, ‘no, you’re actually training with the first team’,” Kennedy recalls.
“Shock, nerves, a bit of butterflies… I went out, trained and found out after the session I was going to be in the squad for Motherwell the following night.”
He was named on the bench for the 4-0 shellacking Celtic dished out. The game had entered its final 10 minutes when Dalglish gave him “the shout”.
“It was pure excitement – just get me on. I remember the stadium, the feeling, the team winning 4-0,” he says.
“It was a strange few months going from an apprentice boot boy who occasionally plays with the youth team to stepping out on to Celtic Park which was a dream for a long time. It was a big achievement, but at that point, I was young and there were injuries and gaps in the first team to maybe give young ones an opportunity. I did everything I could to make an impression.”
With John Kennedy as his assistant, Neil Lennon has won both matches since returning to Celtic as manager
‘My shin popped out of position’
Five years on, Kennedy was a regular at the heart of Martin O’Neill’s Celtic defence. He starred in a draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp and an Old Firm derby triumph at Ibrox before being called up for his Scotland debut against Romania in March 2004.
Then, disaster struck. Kennedy was hammered late by a vicious Ioanel Ganea tackle. His leg was broken.
“I remember on the pitch I thought I had broken my leg. I tried to stand up and my shin popped out of position,” he says.
“When you are young, you just think you are untouchable. You know, playing in the Nou Camp and going to Ibrox, playing with Henrik Larsson and Chris Sutton, and you are just in your own wee bubble. Then all of a sudden someone brings the needle out and bursts that and reality sets in.”
Kennedy went to America for assessment and surgery where he was told he would be out for 18 months. He would have to wait almost three years until his next Celtic appearance in April 2007.
Seven months later, he was crocked again, knee damage this time. Back to America. Back under the knife.
Once more, Kennedy returned to action, but he could feel his knee grumbling and his powers diminishing. Celtic were poised to recall him from a loan spell at Norwich City when his ankle then his knee, again, broke down. At just 26, the writing was on the wall.
“At that point I was struggling a little bit. I could feel towards the end of games I was in a bit of pain, quite stiff and couldn’t move the way I wanted, but I just wanted to push as much as I could to give it another go,” Kennedy says.
“Ultimately it was never going to be. In the end the surgeon made the decision for me to call it a day. It was the right decision. I think when he told me it was time up, I felt a bit of relief. Physically, I was probably doing myself more harm than good.
“For someone to take the decision out of my hands and say, ‘you need to stop now or your going to have long-term damage which will affect your normal daily life’, then it was the right call. It gave me a bit of relief and I just had to focus on what I was going to do next.”
‘Dream’ to manage Celtic
Kennedy stayed at Celtic, working as a scout then earning his coaching badges, leading the under-19s and the reserve side before being promoted to first-team coach five years ago.
With Rodgers’ departure to Leicester City, Kennedy was elevated again to assist Lennon.
He refutes rumours he was to be appointed the club’s director of football and says he was not tempted to follow Rodgers south. His ultimate ambition is to manage the club he supports.
“It’s a dream. It’s not something I’m going to get caught up in and overrule what I do now in terms of trying to become the Celtic manager,” he says.
Chris Davies, Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy in the Celtic dug-out at Rugby Park
A first-team coach since 2014, Kennedy spent two-and-a-half years under Brendan Rodgers
“I’m in the moment, I know if I don’t deliver as assistant manager, then things happen and you need to move on. You work at big clubs, there are those pressures.
“I had a great relationship with Brendan, spoke to him about a number of things and what the future might hold, but ultimately I was there preparing the team. I’m happy here, I don’t want to be moving anywhere at the moment.
“I’m in a good place, the club are in a great moment and when you’re in these moments you’ve got to savour it because I’ve seen the other side of it as a fan and even as a player when you’re maybe not winning, you’re chasing the opposition. At the moment we’re on top of our game.”
Listen to the full interview with Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound from 14:00 GMT on Saturday.
John Kennedy on Gavin Strachan, Harry Kewell, Stevie Woods and Celtic’s Defensive Rigidity
By PAUL GILLESPIE 14 February, 2023
John Kennedy on Gavin Strachan, Harry Kewell, Stevie Woods and Celtic’s Defensive Rigidity
Joe Hart of Celtic is seen prior to the UEFA Europa League Third Qualifying Round Leg Two match between Celtic and Jablonec at Celtic Park on August 12, 2021 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Something that is often lost when covering this current Celtic team that Ange Postecoglou has assembled in such a short space of time, is the defensive solidity that has accompanied the wonderful, freeflowing, swashbuckling, attacking style of play that the big man has brought to the table.
Last year we had the best defensive record in the county, yet swathes of the media continued to berate and belittle Carl Starfelt and Joe Hart – both of whom were assertive and consistent throughout the entire season. This season, and since the beginning of the New Year especially, we have looked formidable at the back and that has served as the foundation for our magnificent run of form since the 2 January at Ibrox.
Assistant manager, John Kennedy has been speaking to the media about this really strong defensive structure we have and how it has dovetailed nicely with the very tenets of the way we play under Ange Postecoglou. “I’ve been here too long to accept any praise,” Kennedy said, via The Herald. “I know what happens next week if we lose a goal or a game! I think sometimes because of the position you played, people relate that area of the game to you. But the focus is very much on improving individuals but also on all areas of the team.
“My job is to support the manager but a large part of the job I do is on the training pitch, doing analysis, working with the players on a daily basis, along with Gavin (Strachan), Harry (Kewell) and Stevie Woods. We’ve got a very strong staff here who all have a real focus on developing the players. The first team is always about results, but we have players here who are continually working to improve themselves. I’ve worked in academies where that is the primary focus, and the first team has only been about results. But here’s it’s also about developing the players alongside that.”
Working with the backroom team at Lennoxtown to help instil and improve the characteristics of Angeball and the defensive principles that are attached to the offensive side of the game, is a fundamental part of Kennedy’s day-to-day schedule. He said: “It’s part of the function of the team. I get much more excited when the play is at the other end and the team is scoring goals. But a large part of how we play is how we defend as a team. We meet teams head on at the top end of the pitch.
“That has been key to not conceding or giving up many chances. It’s the attitude they show. It’s very easy to kind of take it easy at times, think, ‘I’ll not make that run, or press as hard as I have been’, and before you know it you are defending your box. The guys have kept the foot down in that respect and maintained the intensity. We always start with a real intent to press because it leads to a lot of our attacking success. It’s about the whole team and not just the defenders. But at the same time, the guys at the back have done a terrific job – just as well as the attacking players who score the goals.”
The former Hoops defender admitted that having a strong defensive structure and partnership at the centre of this Celtic side is a key factor in our success of late. Cameron Carter-Vickers and Carl Starfelt have been sensational since paired together and have given the Bhoys’ creative players the freedom at times to express themselves without worrying about their backline. “It’s good to have two strong characters like Cameron and Carl,” he said. “They have been key to the stability at the back.”
He added: “They’ve played a lot together and you can see the relationship blossoming. It will get even better in time. Alongside that we have Yuki (Kobayashi), who has looked good since he has come in, and Stephen Welsh has also contributed a lot as well. The squad is in a good place defensively. There’s been some rotation and changes at times, but everyone has come in and contributed. The manager has instilled in the team the fact it doesn’t matter if you play 10 minutes or 90 minutes, you have to contribute to the team.”
John Kennedy record
From CQN may 2021
JOHN KENNEDY was in interim charge of Celtic for 10 games – eight in the Premiership and two in the Scottish Cup – when he stepped in following Neil Lennon’s rapid departure on February 23
The former club and country central defender kicked off with a 1-0 win over Aberdeen at Parkhead four days later.
Unfortunately, that was one of only three league victories for the 37-year-old coach. The others came against Livingston, 6-0 last month, and St Johnstone, 4-0 last week.
There were four draws – Dundee United (0-0), Steven Gerrard’s side (1-1), Aberdeen (1-1) and Hibs (0-0) – as well as one loss, the 4-1 collapse at Ibrox earlier this month.
A separate league table covering Kennedy’s reign would show the team trailing after shedding 11 points from eight games.
The Scottish Cup run lasted two outings, a 3-0 win over First Division Falkirk in the east end of Glasgow and a 2-0 exit in Govan.
In four away games, the Hoops failed to register a solitary success and scored a mere three goals while conceding seven.
Kennedy has come across as being articulate and intelligent, but the facts show he is not equipped for the top job at the moment. To be absolutely fair, he took over a team that was on its knees as it dredged its way through the mire of a wretched campaign, the first trophyless term in 11 years.
Now he awaits news to see if he has a role to play in the forthcoming managerial shake-up that should see Eddie Howe installed as Lennon’s long-term successor.
CQN understands there will be a place for Kennedy who looked back on the experience and admitted: “We’ve had a rough season, so it’s almost like you have to close that, draw the line, hit the reset button and get Celtic back to where we belong.”
KENNEDY RECORD:
February 27: CELTIC 1 Aberdeen 0
March 7: Dundee United 0, CELTIC 0
March 21: CELTIC 1 Rangers 1
April 3: CELTIC 3 Falkirk 0
April 10: CELTIC 6 Livingston 0
April 18: Rangers 2 CELTIC 0
April 21: Aberdeen 1 CELTIC 1
May 2: Rangers 4 CELTIC 1
May 12: CELTIC 4 St Johnstone 0
May 15: Hibs 0 CELTIC 0