Kevin Kilbane
Kevin Daniel Kilbane ( born 1 February 1977 in Preston ) is a former Irish football player. As a skilled left winger who could also be used on the defense side, in the central- midfield or defense center, he completed 110 caps for the Irish national team and participated in the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea in part. To this end, he was active in English football for numerous clubs, including Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland AFC, FC Everton, Wigan Athletic and Hull City scored.
Sports career
Club career
Preston North End (until 1997)
Kevin Kilbane began his career in the youth of his home club Preston North End. After promotion to the first team in July 1995, he gained there in the 1995/96 season first experience. For winning the fourth division championship he added eleven league operations, said he was after the debut on October 14, 1995 by Substitutes against Torquay United ( 4-0) made his debut in the starting lineup on January 30, 1996 compared to Darlington FC (2:1) - Four days later, he succeeded in the 1-0 win against Wigan Athletic the first hit. Overall, he showed particular strengths in direct duels and run at flanks, which he caused problems as a left winger tightly staggered opponent's defensive ranks.
Coupled with a groin problem, he lost in his second year a little its shape, but this second division side West Bromwich Albion did not prevent from a transfer deal. Has been doing the initial offer in the amount of 900.00 pounds nor disapproved Preston, he moved beginning of June 1997 for a million pounds but then the " Baggies " enshrine their transfer fee record of 1979 exceeded for Peter Barnes.
West Bromwich Albion (1997-1999)
He shot the new club on the first competitive goal of the season 1997 /98. With its agile playing style, he quickly became a crowd favorite and soon after his arrival to the Irish A-National player. Although the performances were often still miss Constance, but with his dedication he knew in domestic Appendix well to please, as by goals in the 1998/99 season against Bolton Wanderers (later within the association as " goal of the season " award ) and 2: 0 derby win against Wolverhampton Wanderers.
In the first half of the season 1999/2000 he was one of the best actors of his team. He scored some important goals, which he sustained recommended for the highest English league. Ultimately took Peter Reid as coach of AFC Sunderland in December 1999, the opportunity in the winter transfer window and stood behind the obligation for 2.5 million pounds that Kilbane should replace the at Reid disgraced Allan Johnston in Sunderland.
AFC Sunderland (1999-2003)
Right away Kilbane left in Sunderland a good impression and after coming off the bench in the first game against FC Southampton he fooled not only repeated his direct opponent, but also ensured that the template that Kevin Phillips, took a decisive 1-0. This was however the last victory by March 2000 and in the 17 winless games Kilbane was also the subject of criticism. In addition to the new club environment he acclimatized despite high use will be very difficult for him in the new Premier League. Moreover, his predecessor Johnston was among the fans have been very popular and the comparisons stopped Kilbane little stand; in addition to his acting unkonventiell running style, he was always a little weak.
Similar ups and downs lived Kilbane in the season 2000 /01. After a remarkable goal against Derby County, which he scored from the unaccustomed right wing position, his form again after so that it extended period of time on the bench again found himself before it, in the final stage with three goals in a short time against Tottenham Hotspur FC Southampton and Charlton Athletic had a positive talking point again. However, when annexed to the "Black Cats" Kilbane on counting not the favorites, although distinguished for his performances in the 2001/ 02 season by more consistent and he now by his leading role in the Irish national team on the way to the 2002 World Cup and internationally on had drawn attention.
The reproaches on the part of supporters of Sunderland AFC continued during the season 2002 /03. They have already been initiated in a friendly in Belgium in the summer of 2002, when a group in the audience Kilbane was ausbuhte at every contact with the ball that reacted contrary to his usual habit with showing the middle finger then. Athletic ended the year just as disappointing with the descent into the second division as severed Table and Kilbane had been deployed at several positions - as it were on the left side of defense, central midfield or even the penalty area. He had scored a single goal of the season against Everton and shortly after the start of the subsequent season 2003/ 04 he moved on 2 September 2003 for the transfer fee of 750,000 pounds at this very club, which was coached by David Moyes and the yet more had played in a club in Preston with Kilbane.
Everton & Wigan (2003-2009)
Given the critical voices that had been raised in Sunderland and had always had Kilbanes " Premier -League - ability " on the subject, the transfer was initially greeted with skepticism by Everton. But he quickly showed up at the " Toffees " as an enrichment of the left. To this end, he wore next to dribbling and flanks also own four Goals in the first year and was with his aerial ability at set pieces often trouble spot in the opposing penalty areas. With the exception of an injury in the closing stages of the season he was at first team regular in the first seven months, he missed just one Premier League game. In his second year he established himself in the team and was after thirteen years again Everton Fielder, who missed no league game in a season. In the end, it chose its own trailer to the best players and form strong he was particularly evident in the important home wins in April 2005 against Crystal Palace (4-0 ) and Manchester United ( 1-0), the decisive factor for reaching the Champions League qualifications were. There he failed with his men, however, early in the Villarreal and otherwise ran the 2005/06 season with the slipping in the lower half of the table in the Premier League by grow, especially as he remained completely without their own scoring. It followed only two league games at the start of the 2006 /07 before the League rival Wigan Athletic signed him end of August 2006 for two million pounds. He " adopted " from Everton in the last game at Tottenham Hotspur (2-0) with a yellowish red card.
Shortly after his arrival Kilbane celebrated against former club Everton his debut for the " Latics ". In the following years he played the majority of games and against Tottenham in the 3-3 draw in April 2007, he managed the only goal in the season 2006/07. Following the sale of Leighton Baines Kilbane occupied in the season 2007 /08 is usually the unfamiliar position of left-back. He has been consistent in the defense services and provided with occasional forays offensive for danger. Added to this was a watchable headed goal in a 1-0 victory against West Ham United. In his third year for Wigan Athletic Kilbane came only rarely to train and after just three appearances in the starting lineup as a left midfielder for a change Erstligaaufsteiger Hull City was him against the background of the expiring contract allows for £ 500,000 in January 2009.
Career finale (2009-2012)
In Hull, he met his former Wigan team-mate Caleb Folan and Marlon King and because of its versatile applicability, he played as if on the left side in defense and in midfield as well as in the last two games helping out in central defense. His position in the team was very fast and highlighted in the away game against Fulham in October 2009, he served the team first as captain. When 1:4 against Burnley he scored his first goal for the " Tigers", but despite its generally good shape he could not avoid relegation to the second division. There he came steadily until shortly before the end of 2010 for use before he was loaned out in January 2011 for the remaining season games at third division side Huddersfield Town. The " Terriers " he replaced in midfield center Damien Johnson and together with his new team he reached the play-off final, which was, however, lost 0-3 to Peterborough United. Immediately after his return to Hull followed in August 2011, a further four-month rental period the second division club Derby County. By the end of his contract period in the summer of 2012, however, he did not come for Hull City as an active player used, which was also the fact that he had undergone back surgery in December 2011 and was only recovered again in the season finale. At the same time he started from February 2012 as a coach in the youth field of the " Tigers"; time, he oversaw the last eight games of the season reserve team. However, as a head coach Nick Barmby had to leave the club, also Kilbanes continued presence has been questioned, especially as he had promised to try to not necessarily end his own career.
So he signed at the beginning of the season 2012/13 a new year contract at third division Coventry City. There, immediately took over the captaincy, but after only twelve duty stakes he already announced the beginning of December 2012 his retirement from professional sports.
Irish national
Due to the Irish nationality of both parents born in England Kevin Kilbane was quick to focus on the Irish national teams. From 1996 to 1997, he completed nine games for the U-21 junior and thereby scored a goal. On September 6, 1997, he then gave his senior international debut against Iceland. From then on he was able to assert itself as a regular player under manager Mick McCarthy and the first success was to qualify for the finals for the Football World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea. There he graduated in left midfield all four games, including the last sixteen. There you failed on penalties to Spain after the Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas kept the penalty of Kilbane and David Connolly and to Matt Holland had made a further miss.
After the tournament Kilbane scored the first goal in the reign of new coach Brian Kerr and although he lived through difficult times in Sunderland, he remained in the Irish national team, a fixed size. He acted there now often in the center of midfield and in 2004 elected him the Irish Association FAI to " National Player of the Year ." After three missed finals qualifications for World or European Championships, he failed with his men then short of the participation of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Relegation in France, in which he as well as Shay Given with his 102nd match for Ireland ceased the record by Steve Staunton, was very unhappy, lost through the gate of William Gallas, which was prepared by Thierry Henry with his hand. Kilbane and Given were on 2 March 2010 in the game against Brazil together sole most capped player in Ireland before initially Given and Robbie Keane later took over the record alone. His last appearance was on June 4, 2011 instead of the 2-0 victory over Macedonia in Skopje, before a back injury led him to end his national team career. Overall, he had denied 110 matches, of which 66 are in series.
In addition to and after active career
After the end of his own football career Kilbane began increasingly to appear as sports expert in various media formats in appearance. He had completed a two-year training for Sports Journalism at Staffordshire University. In the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, he was already involved in sports reporting by the Irish radio station RTÉ and from 2012 he analyzed for TV3 Games of the Champions League and the Europa League. There were also performances from 2013 in England for the BBC's Match of the Day.
In October 2013 he published his autobiography, " Killa ". The profit from this book project he presented various charities associated with Down's syndrome are available - his eldest daughter was born with this intellectual disability.
Achievements
- Irish National Player of the Year ( 1): 2004