Towering Australia striker Josh Kennedy has retired from football citing the physical demands of his 15-year playing career, his club Melbourne City said Friday.

The 1.94m (six feet four inches) target man scored 17 times in 33 international appearances for Australia, including the goal that took them to the 2014 World Cup with a 1-0 win over Iraq.

The 32-year-old Kennedy, previously based in Japan, thanked Melbourne City, which is owned by English giants Manchester City.

But he said a string of injuries, including a back problem which kept him out of last year's World Cup, had prompted his decision to quit.

"Unfortunately the demands of professional football over the years has taken its toll on me physically and after consultation with family and friends, I've made the decision to step away from playing," Kennedy said in a statement.

"I am extremely proud of my achievements throughout my career and grateful to have represented the Socceroos at the highest level."

Melbourne City coach John van't Schip said Kennedy's one season at the Victoria state club had helped it reach its highest ever finish.

"We speak for the entire football community in Australia when we thank Josh for his immense contribution to the sport," van't Schip said.

Kennedy joined the A-League club in January after spending over five years in the J-League with Nagoya Grampus.

After making Australia's squads for the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, Kennedy missed out on Brazil 2014 with his back injury and was overlooked for this year's Asian Cup.

Kennedy claimed the golden boot for the J-League's leading scorer with Nagoya in 2010, a feat he repeated the following year.