It’s hard work, you’ve got to be on the ball or you’re in trouble.
- Josh Kennedy
JOSH Kennedy has been given some tough jobs in his decorated career, but none as tough as this.
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The recently retired Socceroos star has taken over as the primary carer of his three children, with wife Jacinta back playing WNBL.
Kennedy said he loved taking care of Jayda, 8, Isabelle, 7, and Lachlan, 4, but has new-found respect for Jacinta.
“It’s hard work, you’ve got to be on the ball or you’re in trouble,” Kennedy said.
“My wife’s gone back to play so it’s quite odd to switch roles.
“She’s out playing sport and I’m the primary caretaker for our children.
“Making lunches and doing school drop offs.
“It’s good to get a perspective of what my wife had to do.”
The Kennedys have been together since they started dating as 17-year-olds at the Australian Institute of Sport.
When they returned to Melbourne, Jacinta hadn't played serious basketball for almost eight years.
She’s now back with the Dandenong Ranges in the WNBL – Jacinta had previously won three championships with the club and won a Commonwealth Games gold meal with the Opals – while Kennedy enjoys retirement.
A chronic back injury forced the striker to retire from A-League club Melbourne City in June this year.
Kennedy said he still wasn’t pain free in his day-to-day life.
“Just being able to run around with the kids is my goal,” the 33-year-old said.
“I’m still chipping away with it.
“The kids would miss out on a lot if I wasn’t able to run around with them so that’s what I want to do.”
Kennedy did it all in a career spanning 16 years.
He was part of three World Cup campaigns – he played in Germany in 2006 and in South Africa in 2010 –but injury prevented the tall striker from participating in the 2014 tournament in Brazil.
Overall, he was capped 36 times for Australia, scoring 17 goals, many with his head.
Kennedy played most of his club career in Germany before a switch to J-League club Nagoya Grampus.
He returned home in January to join City as its Australian marquee.
Kennedy scored two goals in 12 appearances for the club - including against Wellington in the elimination final – before his back injury became too much to bare.
He’s not sure what his working future holds, although Kennedy is contemplating a coaching career, sitting a C licence course in Albury at the weekend.
“The opportunity came up with the course in Albury and it’s probably the first time I’ve had the time to do something like this,” he said.
“It’s good to see the game from a different angle.
“I really don’t know what I want to sink my teeth into.
“The coaching course is a good opportunity to excite my interest and see if it’s something I want to do more serious.
“I’m just happy to enjoy retirement at the moment and keep myself busy.
“I’d love to play locally (in Melbourne) but I’m happy not doing anything and letting my body recover.”
