Mikhail Kennedy

{{Infobox football biography

|name = Mikhail Kennedy

|image =

|image_size =

|caption =

|fullname = Mikhail Caolan Patrick Kennedy{{cite news |title=The Football League Limited: Club list of registered players as at 16th May 2015 |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/documents/pages-from-fl-professional-retain-list-free-transfers-2014-15-2.pdf-...549-2491536.pdf |publisher=The Football League |page=15 |date=16 May 2015 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}

|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1996|8|18}}{{cite web |title=Mikhail Kennedy |url=http://www.11v11.com/players/mikhail-kennedy-249878/|publisher=11v11 |accessdate=1 December 2015}}

|birth_place = Derry, Northern Ireland

|height = 1.78 m

|position = Forward

|currentclub = Institute

|clubnumber = 19

|youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–2014

|youthclubs1 = Charlton Athletic

|years1 = 2014–2019

|clubs1 = Charlton Athletic

|caps1 = 2

|goals1 = 0

|years2 = 2014

|clubs2 = → VCD Athletic (loan)

|caps2 = 2

|goals2 = 1

|years3 = 2015

|clubs3 = → VCD Athletic (loan)

|caps3 = 3

|goals3 = 1

|years4 = 2017

|clubs4 = → Derry City (loan)

|caps4 = 9

|goals4 = 0

|years5 = 2018–2019

|clubs5 = → Chelmsford City (loan)

|caps5 = 7

|goals5 = 1

|years6 = 2019

|clubs6 = → Concord Rangers (loan)

|caps6 = 3

|goals6 = 0

|years7 = 2021–2023

|clubs7 = Dergview

|caps7 = 55

|goals7 = 21

|years8 = 2023–2024

|clubs8 = Crusaders

|caps8 = 7

|goals8 = 0

|years9 = 2024–

|clubs9 = Institute

|caps9 = 23

|goals9 = 12

|nationalyears1 = 2012–2013

|nationalteam1 = Northern Ireland U17

|nationalcaps1 = 4

|nationalgoals1 = 2

|nationalyears2 = 2013–2014

|nationalteam2 = Northern Ireland U19

|nationalcaps2 = 3

|nationalgoals2 = 0

|nationalyears3 = 2015–2016

|nationalteam3 = Northern Ireland U21

|nationalcaps3 = 7

|nationalgoals3 = 1

|club-update = 7 May 2023

}}

Mikhail Caolan Patrick Kennedy (born 18 August 1996) is a Northern Irish professional footballer who plays as a forward for NIFL Championship side Institute. He also represented his country up to under-21 level.

He played four professional matches for English Football League club Charlton Athletic, scoring once on his debut. He was loaned to several non-league and Irish teams before retiring from professional football at age 23 due to injury in 2020.

Club career

Born in Derry, Kennedy was in Charlton Athletic's under-18 team, and then their under-21 side for the 2014–15 season, under the management of Jason Euell. On 10 December 2014, he signed a professional contract until the summer of 2015.{{cite news|title=Sky Bet Championship: Charlton hand pro deal to Academy star Mikhail Kennedy|url=http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11684/9600047/kennedy-pens-first-pro-deal|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=Sky Sports|date=10 December 2014}} Later that month, he was loaned to nearby VCD Athletic of the Isthmian League, where he scored within three minutes of his debut in a 1–1 draw at Hendon on the 13th.{{cite news|last1=Young|first1=Paul|title=DREAM DEBUT FOR MIKHAIL KENNEDY|url=http://www.vcdathleticfc.uk/teams/95398/match-centre/1-1008648|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=VCD Athletic F.C.|date=13 December 2015}} On 16 January 2015, he returned to VCD on a month-long loan.{{cite news|title=Mikhail Kennedy joins VCD Athletic on loan|url=http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/mikhail-kennedy-loan-transfer-charlton-2208068.aspx|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=Charlton Athletic F.C.|date=16 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150116221918/http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/mikhail-kennedy-loan-transfer-charlton-2208068.aspx|archive-date=16 January 2015|url-status=dead}}

Kennedy was first included in a Charlton matchday squad on 16 August 2015, remaining an unused substitute in their 2–1 Championship win over Hull City at The Valley.{{cite news|title=Charlton 2–1 Hull|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33944301|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=16 August 2015}} Nine days later, he made his debut in the second round of the League Cup, opening a 4–1 win away to Peterborough United with a third-minute goal.{{cite news|title=Peterborough 1–4 Charlton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/33969966|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=25 August 2015}} On 19 September, Kennedy made his first appearance in The Football League, playing the first 61 minutes of a 3–0 loss at Blackburn Rovers before being replaced by Igor Vetokele.{{cite news|title=Blackburn 3–0 Charlton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34229726|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=BBC Sport|date=19 September 2015}} In December 2015, he extended his contract by two and a half years.{{cite news |title=Mikhail Kennedy and Josh Staunton sign new Charlton deals |url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/mikhail-kennedy-and-josh-staunton-sign-new-charlton-deals_sto5014837/story.shtml |accessdate=27 August 2020 |publisher=Eurosport |date=4 December 2015}}

On 15 February 2017, Kennedy was loaned to hometown team Derry City of the League of Ireland until June.{{cite news|title=Derry City sign Charlton Athletic striker Mikhail Kennedy in loan deal|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38985581|accessdate=18 January 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=15 February 2017}} He did not score during his time at the Brandywell Stadium, with manager Kenny Shiels preferring to play Nathan Boyle as a lone striker.{{cite news|last1=Ferry|first1=Gary|title=Mikhail Kennedy eager to kick on with career following disappointing Derry City spell|url=https://www.derrynow.com/soccer/mikhail-kennedy-eager-kick-career-following-disappointing-derry-city-spell/170013|accessdate=18 January 2018|publisher=Derry Now|date=24 June 2017}}

He signed a new six-month contract with Charlton at the end of the 2017–18 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44168640|title=Ahmed Kashi: Charlton Athletic in contract talks with Algerian midfielder|date=18 May 2018|accessdate=18 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport}} On 26 December 2018, Chelmsford City announced the signing of Kennedy on a one-month loan deal.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/clarets-add-charlton-striker-on-loan-2379976.html|title=Clarets add Charlton striker on loan|date=26 December 2018|accessdate=26 December 2018|publisher=Chelmsford City F.C.}} He played seven games for the National League South club and scored in his last, a 3–1 win at Dulwich Hamlet on 26 January 2019.{{cite news |title=Rod Stringer on Mikhail Kennedy's loan spell |url=http://www.chelmsfordcityfc.com/news/rod-stringer-on-mikhail-kennedys-loan-spell-2390784.html |accessdate=8 March 2019 |publisher=Chelmsford City F.C. |date=29 January 2019}}

On 28 March 2019, Kennedy joined Concord Rangers on loan for a month, again in the National League South.{{cite news |title= News coming from Concord Rangers today is that @MikhailKennedy has joined us on a one month loan from @CAFCofficial. |url=https://twitter.com/ConcordRangers/status/1111363977076969478 |accessdate=28 March 2019 |publisher= Concord Rangers F.C. Twitter |date=28 March 2019}}{{cite news |title= Mikhail Kennedy joins Concord Rangers on month-long loan deal |url=https://www.cafc.co.uk/news/view/5c9dfa446a034/mikhail-kennedy-joins-concord-rangers-on-month-long-loan-deal |accessdate=29 March 2019 |publisher= Charlton Athletic F.C. Official Website |date=29 March 2019}} He was released by Charlton in May, and in July he trialled at Institute in his hometown.{{cite news |last1=McLaughlin |first1=Kevin |title=Institute in for ex-Derry City loanee |url=https://www.derryjournal.com/sport/football/institute-in-for-ex-derry-city-loanee-1-8993600 |accessdate=21 November 2019 |work=Derry Journal |date=10 July 2019}}

In May 2020, over a year after last playing, Kennedy stated that - following medical advice - he would be retiring from professional football at the age of just 23.{{cite news |title=Former Derry City striker Mikhail Kennedy retires |url=https://www.derryjournal.com/news/former-derry-city-striker-mikhail-kennedy-retires-2865116 |accessdate=27 August 2020 |work=Derry Journal |date=26 May 2020}}

However, in August 2021, Kennedy signed for semi-professional NIFL Championship team Dergview.{{cite news |title= Welcome to Dergview....MIKHAIL KENNEDY! |url=https://twitter.com/DVFCupdates/status/1432794073400856580 |accessdate=2 September 2021 |publisher= Dergview F.C. Twitter |date=31 August 2021}}

In May 2023, it was announced that Kennedy would join NIFL Premiership side Crusaders.{{cite news|url=https://www.newsletter.co.uk/sport/football/northern-ireland/crusaders-announce-arrival-of-four-players-including-return-of-lloyd-anderson-4147920|title=Crusaders announce arrival of four players including return of Lloyd Anderson|work=News Letter|date=18 May 2023}}

=Institute=

He signed for NIFL Championship club Institute on 4 January 2024.

Kennedy scored on his debut for the club in a 2-1 league win over league leaders Dundela.

International career

Kennedy played for Northern Ireland's under-17 team in 2013 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification, scoring in two elite round games as they finished last in their group. On 21 March 2013, two minutes after replacing Ross Lavery, he scored as Northern Ireland came from behind to draw 2–2 with the Netherlands in Uden.{{cite news|title=Netherlands v. Northern Ireland|url=http://www.irishfa.com/international/fixtures-and-results/report/570/netherlands-v-northern-ireland/|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=Irish Football Association|date=21 March 2013}} Two days later, he equalised in a 2–1 loss to Norway.{{cite news|title=Norway v. Northern Ireland|url=http://www.irishfa.com/international/fixtures-and-results/report/571/norway-v-northern-ireland/|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=Irish Football Association|date=23 March 2013}}

On 5 September 2015, Kennedy scored in the seventh minute of a 2017 European Championship qualifier for Northern Ireland under-21, albeit in a 1–2 loss to Scotland.{{cite news|title=Northern Ireland U21s 1–2 Scotland U21s: Ryan Fraser scores winner|url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/international/1328138-northern-ireland-u21s-1-2-scotland-u21s-ryan-fraser-scores-winner/|accessdate=23 September 2015|publisher=STV|date=5 September 2015}}