[ad_1]
‘I’ve kicked a ball since I was a kid and I am still kicking a ball!’: Liverpool legend Alan Kennedy set to lace up his boots again at the age of 64 in Anfield charity match against AC Milan
- Liverpool Legends are set to play AC Milan in Anfield charity match on March 23
- Former left-back Alan Kennedy is relishing prospect of playing at 64
- Kennedy remains active and still plays walking football on a regular basis
- He won two European Cups and five league titles during eight years at the club
Joe Bernstein For Mail On Sunday
European Cup hero Alan Kennedy is pulling on a Liverpool shirt again at the age of 64 after faithfully keeping a promise to Bob Paisley that he’d never pump iron in the gym.
Kennedy has been invited to play in the Liverpool-AC Milan legends game at Anfield on March 23 where he’ll give more than 20 years away to stars like Michael Owen, Jamie Carragher and Andrea Pirlo.
Carragher trained with Kennedy last week and said: ‘You can’t have a legends game without him. He is still one of the best players.’
Alan Kennedy, 64, is set to play for the Liverpool Legends team against AC Milan next month
The left-back, who won two European Cups with Liverpool, remains fit and active
Kennedy played competitively until he was 40 and famously scored in two European Cup finals – the only goal against Real Madrid in 1981 and the shoot-out winner to beat Roma three years later.
The former left-back puts his longevity down to good genes, walking football and a refusal to work out.
‘Football has always been the most important thing to me. If anyone asked me to join in a training session or a game, I’d be there,’ Kennedy said.
‘I’d have gone mad if they hadn’t asked me for this. I’ve kicked a ball since I was a kid and I am still kicking a ball.
‘Most of the other players like Michael Owen and Steve McManaman are a lot younger than me but it’s a challenge.
‘Jamie Carragher is probably a lot fitter than me because he is much younger but probably doesn’t drink as much beer!
Kennedy pictured during a training session with the Liverpool Legends team last week
(Left to right) Jason McAteer, Steve McManaman, Michael Owen, John Aldridge, Jamie Carragher, Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler and Kennedy will be involved in the match
‘How we won anything in the 1980s I’ll never know because we really enjoyed ourselves off the pitch.
‘Maybe that was the secret of our success, the camaraderie. Everything was like one big happy family with Bob Paisley at the helm telling you what to do.
‘I play walking football twice a week and I play football on a Monday night with some really old guys – who are still younger than me!
‘I do some running but that’s it. I don’t go in the gym on the weights or anything like that.
‘I don’t think it would be beneficial to me. Bob Paisley would be turning in his grave if he thought I was doing weights or things like that.’
Kennedy laughs that Paisley used to allow the players to relax after games with a plate of fish and chips.
Kennedy pictured with the European Cup after Liverpool’s win over Real Madrid in 1981
‘Ronnie Moran would be ordered by Bob to buy the fish and chips. When Jan Molby joined, he couldn’t believe it. He’d say “Where is the nutrition in that?”‘
Kennedy was signed by Liverpool in 1978 from hometown club Newcastle United and stayed for six years.
Legends manager Ian Rush has promised to give Kennedy some playing time: ‘I love his enthusiasm and we still know to just put it on his left foot! He is an example for us older players that if you keep yourself fit, you can still keep going.’
Among the other stars on show at Anfield will be Robbie Fowler, Pippo Inzaghi and Paolo Maldini.
Liverpool v AC Milan (Milan Glorie) will take place at Anfield on March 23 for the third official LFC Foundation Legends game.
Tickets are on sale priced from £5 (juniors) to £15 (OAPs) and £22 (adults) at www.liverpoolfc.com
Advertisement
[ad_2]
Source link