Alanna Kennedy kicked her first football at age four in her Western Sydney backyard with her older brother. “I’ve been playing soccer since I could. My brother was my biggest role model growing up and I used to want to do everything he did, so the second I was able to, I started playing soccer,” says Kennedy, who made her on field debut with her local team the Campbelltown Cobras before starting to play reps at age 10, attending the Australian Institute of Sport at 14 and making her debut for our national team the Matildas at 17.
Now 24, Kennedy splits her time between Australia and the US, playing for Sydney FC in the W-League and Orlando Pride in the NWSL. As if that wasn’t enough jet-setting, this week she’s headed from Orlando to Turkey to go into training camp with the Matildas for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Paris this June. The Matildas are hot favourites going into the competition and ranked 6th in the world. “We say all the time ‘This is our year,’ but we truly do believe it this year,” says Kennedy.
The team certainly look the part; in March Nike released the Matildas’ first ever national team collection. “I think the jersey really reflects our team and our individuality. It’s bold and fierce, which is how we want to play at the World Cup,” says Kennedy of the green and gold. “The men’s cut of the jersey sold out on the first day and it was really nice to have that support. After games, we have little boys coming up and asking us for autographs. People really respect us as athletes.”
And so they should. Kennedy is one of the country’s best athletes; she played every minute of Australia’s four matches at the Rio Olympics in 2016, was a part of the Matildas squad that won the 2017 Tournament of Nations (and defeated the US for the first time ever) and scored two goals for Australia at last year’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup.
Get to know the football star kicking goals on and off the field…
ON HOW FOOTBALL HAS CHANGED FOR WOMEN OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS…
“Times are changing; we are able to be full time athletes and are given more resources and facilities so that we can apply our best selves to our game. That’s something the men don’t have to worry about. It’s exciting because the last World Cup was a really good one, but I think the football that’s going to be on display this year will be even better because of those things.”
ON THE FEELING OF RUNNING ONTO THE FIELD WEARING THE GREEN AND GOLD JERSEY REPRESENTING HER COUNTRY…
“Playing for the Matildas is the biggest honour. Most of the time I just feel really proud, especially when my family is in the crowd. There is also an expectation of not letting people down, it’s not a pressure, just an extra drive of motivation. That feeling is something I am grateful for, because I don’t think I’ll have it again when I retire.”
ON THE WORST PART OF TRAINING…
“I have a list of four things that I hate – the worst parts of being a footballer. One of them is the warm up. The second is being away from your family. I also hate rolling out. And the fourth thing is flying. I have a fear of flying; I am one of those people who watch air crash investigation because I need to know what happened.”
ON HER OFF-FIELD PASSIONS…
“It sounds so lame, but I’m really passionate about my family. I’m an aunty, so when I’m home I spend a lot of time with my two nephews and my niece. My sister and brother, and mum and dad, are my best friends. It sounds so corny!”
ON HER CAREER HIGHLIGHT…
“We’ve done so many cool things [at the Matildas] in the time I’ve been on the team. I will always cherish my debut, qualifying for the Olympics and making history last world cup. Being the first team to win a knockout game was a highlight, and we’re looking to go even further and deeper into the competition this year – so that’s exciting.”
Go you good things!
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