Amateur During his college years, Kennedy also played with
Orange County Blue Star in the
USL Premier Development League. He played alongside
Jürgen Klinsmann, who played under a
pseudonym, as well as UCSB teammate
Tony Lochhead. In two seasons with the club, Kennedy appeared in 21 games.
Professional career American start Kennedy was drafted by
C.D. Chivas USA in the 4th Round (38th overall) of the
2005 MLS Supplemental Draft out of UCSB. He was not kept on for the season, but joined
MetroStars as a temporary backup due to injuries to their personnel.
Puerto Rico Islanders He was signed by
Hugo Maradona to play with
USL First Division side
Puerto Rico Islanders in April 2005. He played every minute for the Islanders in the
2005 United Soccer Leagues season en route to being named the 2005 USL First Division Rookie of the Year. He made 55 appearances in his two seasons with the club.
Municipal Iquique Kennedy was under contract with Puerto Rico and was expected to return for the
2007 United Soccer Leagues season, but was transferred to
Primera B de Chile side
Municipal Iquique for the 2007 season. He immediately attracted attention for his play, with
Club Universidad de Chile,
Club Deportivo Universidad Católica, and
Cobreloa all rumored to have been interested in him. Kennedy led the Primera B in goals against average for the 2007 season.
Chivas USA In April 2008,
Chivas USA re-acquired their former draft pick to understudy current starter
Brad Guzan for the
2008 Major League Soccer season. A torn hamstring ruled Thornton out for weeks, thrusting Kennedy into the starting role. Rehabilitation on the knee failed and Kennedy underwent reconstructive surgery to his
posterior cruciate ligament in June 2009, washing out his entire season. He remained the starter for the rest of the season en route to being named the 2011 Chivas USA Most Valuable Player. December 2011 saw Kennedy sign a multi-year extension with Chivas USA. Kennedy remained the starter until Chivas folded after the
2014 Major League Soccer season. He finished in second place for the 2012
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award despite Chivas USA's last-place finish and participated in the
2012 MLS All-Star Game. In May 2013, he signed a contract extension with Chivas and Major League Soccer through the 2016 season.
Francisco Palencia, the Chivas technical director, said of Kennedy at the time of the signing, "He's our captain and our symbol at this moment, so we're very happy to extend this contract." Kennedy celebrated his new contract by scoring his first professional goal on May 28, 2013, on a penalty kick in the
2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against
Los Angeles Blues. Kennedy finished his Chivas USA career as the franchise's all-time leader in games played (144), games started (142), saves (451), and shutouts (28). Despite Chivas USA's demise, Kennedy's future was secure in Major League Soccer due to the extension he previously signed.
FC Dallas After the contraction of Chivas USA, Kennedy was selected 1st overall in the
2014 MLS Dispersal Draft by
FC Dallas. Despite making 16 appearances for Dallas, he became surplus to requirements when
Jesse Gonzalez replaced him as a starter.
LA Galaxy Following the
2015 Major League Soccer season, Kennedy was traded to
LA Galaxy in exchange for two picks in the
2017 MLS SuperDraft. On April 11, 2017, Kennedy announced his retirement from playing professional soccer. ==Awards and honors==