Source: Team_Talk
Kennedy: Retirement a no-brainer
The 26-year-old Celtic defender's injury woes dated back more than five years to his international debut for Scotland in a friendly against Romania in March 2004, when he suffered a serious knee ligament injury following a reckless challenge by Romania striker Ionel Ganea.[LNB]He was out of the Hoops first team for over three years before returning on April 22, 2007, to help Celtic clinch the Scottish Premier League title with a 2-1 victory at Kilmarnock.[LNB]But the following November he was stretchered off during a Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk at Celtic Park with further damage to the same knee.[LNB]A loan spell at Norwich last summer proved just as depressing as he returned to Glasgow at the end of the year after again damaging his knee and a fortnight ago, Kennedy acted on medical advice to officially retire from the game.[LNB]Kennedy, who claims he has not considered legal action against Ganea, said: "It was getting to the point where I had so many surgeries and so many comebacks that it was vital for someone to make the decision for me.[LNB]"Once the decision was made, it was, I suppose, a weight off my shoulders.[LNB]"I don't have to keep worrying about trying to get fit again or what people are thinking about my knee.[LNB]"As positive and as strong as I felt, I always had this slight fear in the back of my mind that at any minute something might happen. But I can close that book and look forward to doing something else, a new challenge.[LNB]"I've had great support from my family and the club and that has helped me massively.[LNB]"It has been tough in that I haven't played as much football as I'd have liked but off the park I've had as good a life as anyone."[LNB]Kennedy revealed how the devastating advice was given to him when he made yet another trip to America to see a specialist.[LNB]"I was asked to go back to America for tests and check-ups," he said.[LNB]"I spent two days with the doctor and his staff and then he sat me down in his office, along with two other doctors, and spent a lot of time going through all my operations.[LNB]"He shocked me when he told me I had been through eight surgeries.[LNB]"He then told me that for the sake of my future and for my life with my kids that it would be best that I considered retiring. You don't want to hear it but it's in the back of your mind."[LNB]Kennedy added: "When I went there I was open-minded.[LNB]"My knee was feeling good but I knew that the more times I injured it the slimmer the chance of getting back again.[LNB]"I would have kept trying until I did myself some serious damage so I think it was the right decision.[LNB]"It was a no-brainer to take his advice. There are people much worse off than me so I have to get on with it."[LNB]Kennedy again used the "closed book" analogy when describing his thoughts on Ganea.[LNB]"The tackle and the player has been a closed book for me for a long time," he said. "Maybe back then, nearer the time, there was slight bitterness but it is one of these things that happens. I never had any personal contact with him.[LNB]"I think I read once that he had said sorry or something like that but to me personally, nothing came but it is not something that concerns me.[LNB]"It is not going to make me any better knowing that the guy who tackled me is sorry for what he done.[LNB]"You can dwell on it and let it get to you but I haven't, I have just put it behind me and I have tried not to think too much about it.[LNB]"So I want to close that book and have good memories of the career I had and look forward to the future."[LNB][LNB] Celtic 1/4, Draw 9/2, St Mirren 12/1
