Being a very talented central defender as a young Celtic player – before fate played him a cruel hand – is perhaps the reason a myth has grown up surrounding Celtic assistant John Kennedy, whereby he remains viewed by a sizeable number of those on the outside looking in at Celtic as a defensive coach.
Of course, this meant that when Celtic were shipping goals at an alarming rate during Neil Lennon’s final season in charge, Kennedy found himself front and centre of the blame game. This despite his role as a Celtic assistant coach being far more generic and no so defensively specific.
Yet conversely, with Celtic performing well defensively this season, there will be many looking to give Kennedy as reported in Daily Record, praise for such solidity and frugality in defence.
However, for Kennedy there is no ‘I’ in team and the praise is deflected in much the same way you’d hope he disregarded the mis-directed criticism during the 20/21 season.
“I’ve been here too long to accept any praise! 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 (keeper coach) 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.”
Two individuals in the Celtic team who certainly do deserve praise for their defensive stability is Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers. Both, as individuals, have shown themselves as very different but equally capable defenders. Yet as a partnership the blend of both has produced the sort of backline stability that has allowed the attacking talent in Celtic’s side to go about their job of work and take the necessary risks required to create, safe in the knowledge for the most part the back-door remains securely bolted.
That’s something Kennedy views as key to Celtic’s recent success, but is keen to also acknowledge the part played by the likes of Stephen Welsh and new signing Yuki Kobayashi.
It’s good to have two strong characters like Cameron and Carl. They have been key to the stability at the back. 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, 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. 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.”
It’s clear there is a real pride from John Kennedy in the progress being made at Celtic, alongside the style of play which is producing consistent exciting performances – and that goes for the attacking players as much as those in defence.
And for a coach who took a great deal of unwarranted stick during THAT season, it says a lot for the character of Kennedy that he treats both praise and criticism like the imposters they are – and as ever puts the success of Celtic ahead of any personal gain or indeed previous derision.
John Kennedy has seen and done it all at Celtic, as a scout, first-team coach and assistant manager to Neil Lennon, Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Ange Postecoglou. And you get the impression playing his part in pushing Celtic forward is all the reward he needs.
Yet now at long last Kennedy is getting praise for his efforts, hopefully balancing out the criticism he previously endured, the Celtic assistant coach is now in with the bricks at Celtic and playing a big part in Ange Postecoglou’s Celtic revolution – and he certainly deserves the plaudits. Just don’t to label him as Celtic’s defensive coach – John Kennedy is much, much more than that.
Niall J
