Football Victoria (FV) today announced former Socceroo striker Josh Kennedy as its new MiniRoos Manager in Victoria.
Wodonga-born Kennedy represented Australia 36 times (scoring 20 goals) and appeared in two FIFA World Cups for the green and gold. Before retiring in 2015 with Melbourne City, he spent 13 years playing abroad in Germany and Japan.
FV CEO Peter Filopoulos said he was delighted to welcome someone of Kennedy’s pedigree and values to manage Victoria’s MiniRoos program from March 16 onwards.
MiniRoos is designed for kids of all abilities, aged 4 – 11 years. The nation-wide initiative uses short, game-based sessions to introduce the sport of football to newcomers in an inclusive way. It focuses on learning new skills, being active, making life-long friends and, potentially, unearthing the next generation of Socceroos or Matildas.
“Our clear strategy to grow the game in Victoria has allowed us to create a series of unprecedented opportunities in Victorian football. To be able to get someone of Josh Kennedy’s quality into the organisation, working in genuine grass roots football, is something we’re all very proud of,” Mr Filopoulos said.
“We continue to attract high quality candidates who align to our values of Respect, Integrity, Unity, Leadership and Inclusive. Our values and culture remain a top priority in driving high standards of performance and behaviours and providing the necessary safety and wellbeing of our people and participants.
“Josh’s appointment allows us to not only bolster our current team, but build a stronger team for the future of Victorian football as well,” he said.
Kennedy said he was thrilled to be appointed to the role and was looking forward to getting started.
“I’m in a really good position now where I can start to give back to the game which has been a massive part of my life,” Kennedy said.
“I have a son in MiniRoos and seeing him and his friends enjoying their football, irrespective of their abilities, is fantastic. I can’t wait to share my stories and footballing journey with girls and boys all over the state each weekend across Victoria.
“The first thing I want to do is learn as much as I can from clubs, parents, coaches and of course the kids. Eventually, we can then put longer-term plans in place to improve experiences and attract as many young players as possible to the world game,” Kennedy concluded.
For more information about MiniRoos and where to find a local club, click here.