Former Australia striker Josh Kennedy, whose goal took the Socceroos through to the 2014 World Cup, has announced his retirement from professional football.
The 32-year-old, who played most recently for Melbourne City in the A-League, brings down the curtain on a career that saw him win the 2010 J.League title and the 2007 German Cup, as well as earn 36 international caps, scoring 17 goals.
But Kennedy, who played in three World Cup qualifying campaigns, was cut from the 2014 Australian World Cup squad after breaking down with an injury at the pre-tournament camp in Brazil, just a few days before their opening match.
"I am extremely proud of my achievements throughout my career and grateful to have represented the Socceroos at the highest level," Kennedy told www.melbournecityfc.com.au.
"Unfortunately the demands of professional football over the years have taken their toll on me physically and after consultation with family and friends, I've made the decision to step away from playing."
At international level, Kennedy will always be remembered for a timely header that secured the Socceroos a precious 1-0 victory over Iraq in Sydney in June 2013 to book their place at Brazil 2014.
He appeared in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups and was used as a secret weapon off the bench by coach Guus Hiddink as Australia made the Round of 16 in Germany nine years ago.
After spending almost a decade in Germany where he played for Bundesliga clubs that included Wolfsburg and 2007 DFB-Pokal winners Nuremberg, Kennedy became one of the J.League's most potent strikers over five seasons.
He won the J.League Division 1 title with Nagoya Grampus in 2010 and was the league's top scorer that year and in 2011, creating havoc with his renowned aerial ability. In all, he scored 63 league goals in 128 J.League appearances.
Melbourne City were his last professional club, joining in January. He scored twice in 12 games as City's Australian marquee player, including the important opening goal in the Elimination Final victory over Wellington Phoenix in April.