Kennedy forced into retirement

Celtic defender John Kennedy has been forced to retire from football on medical advice, the club announced on Friday.

The 26-year-old defender, who came through the youth academy at Parkhead, acted on medical advice to officially retire from the game after suffering severe knee problems.

"It is with great regret that I have made this decision," Kennedy told www.celticfc.net. "However, given the medical advice which I received, this is the right decision. Clearly, this is very disappointing for me and my family."

He added: "I have enjoyed my time with Celtic immensely and I would like to thank everyone at the club and all the Celtic fans for all the support and backing they have given me during my time. It has been an absolute privilege to play for such a great club and of course I wish the team the very best for the future."

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.

He was out of the Hoops' first team for over three years and underwent several operations before returning on April 22, 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.

As part of an attempted comeback, Kennedy began a loan spell at Norwich 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.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray described the news of Kennedy's retirement as "tragic".

"For John, his family and indeed everyone at the club, this is extremely sad news," he said. "It really is tragic that John's career has been cut so short in this manner. John is a very fine footballer and a great man, someone who served Celtic with such determination and integrity and someone who had all the qualities required to become such a wonderful player."