For other uses, see Alan Kennedy (disambiguation).
Alan Kennedy
Birth date31 August 1954 (age 72)
Birth placePenshaw, England
Height5 ft 9 in[1]
PositionLeft back
Years 11972–1978
Clubs 1Newcastle United
Caps 1158
Goals 19
Years 21978–1986
Clubs 2Liverpool
Caps 2251
Goals 215
Years 31986–1987
Clubs 3Sunderland
Caps 354
Goals 32
Years 41987
Clubs 4Wigan Athletic
Caps 422
Goals 40
Years 51987
Clubs 5Hartlepool United
Caps 55
Goals 50
Years 61987
Clubs 6B 1903
Years 71988
Clubs 7Beerschot
Years 81988–1989
Clubs 8Northwich Victoria
Years 91989
Clubs 9Colne Dynamoes
Years 101989–1990
Clubs 10Wrexham
Caps 1016
Goals 100
Years 111990–1991
Clubs 11Morecambe
Years 121991–1992
Clubs 12Netherfield
Years 131992–1993
Clubs 13Radcliffe Borough
Years 141993–1994
Clubs 14Barrow
Totalcaps506
Totalgoals26
Nationalyears 11974–1976
Nationalteam 1England U23
Nationalcaps 16
Nationalgoals 10
Nationalyears 21978–1980
Nationalteam 2England B
Nationalcaps 27
Nationalgoals 22
Nationalyears 31984
Nationalteam 3England
Nationalcaps 32
Nationalgoals 30

Alan Kennedy (born 31 August 1954) is an English former professional footballer who played the majority of his career as a left back for Newcastle United and then Liverpool. He was a stalwart member of the latter team that won many honours from the late 1970s to the mid-1980s. At different times Kennedy was active as a professional in England, Denmark, Belgium and Wales, making over 500 appearances in a career that lasted for 22 years. He also represented England at senior international level.

Club career

Born in Sunderland, Kennedy started his professional career at the age of 18 for Newcastle United. After establishing his place in the side he played there for five years. He was a member of the team that lost the 1974 FA Cup Final to Liverpool. In 1978 he was transferred to Liverpool for £330,000, at the time a British record amount for a full-back.

Kennedy scored in the 1981 League Cup Final against West Ham, which ended 1–1 and was won by Liverpool in the replay. He scored the equalising goal with 15 minutes left in the game in the 1983 League Cup Final against Manchester United, a match Liverpool went on to win in extra time. Kennedy was a member of two other League Cup–winning Liverpool teams: in 1982 (against Tottenham Hotspur) and 1984 (against Everton).

In the 1981 European Cup Final against Real Madrid, Kennedy scored the only goal of the match late in the second half.

The 1984 European Cup Final between Liverpool and Roma was tied at 1–1 after extra time, so the winner was determined by penalty kicks. Kennedy scored the decisive penalty (the fifth taken by the team, the fourth that was successful) that clinched the victory for Liverpool.

Kennedy was a regular player in the Liverpool teams that won five league championship titles, in 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83 and 1983–84.

International career

He also earned two caps for the England national team in 1984.[2]

Personal life

His elder brother is fellow footballer Keith Kennedy.[3] His nephew is Tom Kennedy, Keith's son.[4][5]

In 2019 and 2020, Kennedy featured as a guest substitute player in both seasons of ITV show Harry's Heroes, which featured former football manager Harry Redknapp attempting to return a squad of former England international footballers to sufficient fitness for a game against Germany legends.[6]

Honours

Newcastle United

Liverpool

References

  1. ^ Dunk, Peter (ed.) (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^
  3. ^ "Keith Kennedy Football Player Statistics | 11v11.com"
  4. ^ "Alan Kennedy nephew Tom Kennedy backed to be big hit". This Is Leicestershire. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013.
  5. ^ "Maden's double sends kids through". Lancashire Telegraph. 19 October 2002.
  6. ^ ""Harry's Heroes: The Full English" Episode #2.1 (TV Episode 2020)". IMDb
  7. ^ Vernon, Leslie & Rollin, Jack (1977). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78. London: Brickfield Publications Ltd. p. 491. ISBN 0354-09018-6.
  • Profile at the Liverpool F.C. website