Kenny Cunningham
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Edward "Kenny" Cunningham (born 28 June 1971 in Dublin) is an Irish
former footballer who played as a defender
. He played international football for the Republic of Ireland
until his retirement in 2005. He spent his entire professional club career, from 1989 to 2007, in England, making more than 500 appearances in the Football League
and Premier League playing for Millwall
, Wimbledon
, Birmingham City
and Sunderland
.
After retirement as a player, he worked as a pundit for RTÉ Sport
and on the coaching staff at English non-League
club Nuneaton Town.
secondary school in the Glasnevin
district. At school, he played more Gaelic football
than soccer: he played for O'Connell's at Croke Park
alongside future Gaelic star Dessie Farrell
in a schools' final, and played for Na Fianna and Dublin Minors. At association football, he played for the Home Farm
club from under-9s to under-17s, before moving on to amateur
club Tolka Rovers
.
of the English First Division
. His expectations, to play out the season in England and use the experience to earn himself a good contract back in Ireland, changed when, three months before the end of that "trial" season, Millwall offered him a further two-year contract. He made his Football League debut on 17 March 1990, at right back
in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw away to Norwich City
, and started four more first-team games during that season.
In five years with the club, he made 136 league appearances.
moved to Wimbledon
in November 1994, for the joint fee of £1,300,000. Cunningham played 250 league games for Wimbledon.
, newly promoted to the Premier League, in 2002 for a £600,000 fee. He went straight into the starting eleven, playing at centre back in place of injured captain Steve Vickers
rather than his customary right back. He formed a fine defensive partnership with Matthew Upson
, who joined in the January transfer window, and at the end of that campaign, his teammates chose him as their Player of the Season.
After the first few matches of 2003–04, Birmingham's manager Steve Bruce
was describing Cunningham as "on current form ... the best defender in the Premiership". Nicknamed "King Kenny" by the fans, Cunningham had a reputation as an organised solid defender, and Manchester United
and Ireland full-back Denis Irwin
suggested in November 2003 that, though his ability had been under-rated in the past, "this year ... people are realising how good he actually is".
However after the club's relegation at the end of the 2005–06
season, Cunningham was released along with seven other first team players. On 11 May 2006, Cunningham launched a scathing attack in the press on Bruce and the board, blaming the club's relegation on a lack of preparation throughout the season and likening the club to a "stiff corpse" that has "no heartbeat and, more worryingly, no soul". While fans were in the main supportive of Cunningham's views, the club reacted furiously, and chairman David Gold wondered "if Kenny would have said the same things if we'd stayed up, Portsmouth had gone down and he'd been given a lucrative new contract".
praising his leadership qualities. He made 11 appearances for the Black Cats as they won the Championship
, but no more appearances after October when he was made captain by Keane before sustaining an injury. He was released by manager Roy Keane
at the end of the 2006–07
season.
After being released by Sunderland, Cunningham retired as a player.
. In March 2001, he returned after a long layoff due to injury, replacing Richard Dunne
to partner Gary Breen
in defence for a match against Cyprus
. Cunningham was named team captain after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
, "Kenny's qualities as a player are easy to see," manager McCarthy told a media conference
"From day one he has been a great influence.
"He is a talker on the pitch, he organises the players around him, and off the pitch he is a calm influence.
He retired from international football after achieving 72 caps at the age of 34 on 12 October 2005, following Ireland's draw with Switzerland
at Lansdowne Road
, which resulted in his team's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
.
's coverage of the Premier League and for Sky Sports
's coverage of Ireland
matches.
He has also urged caution following a FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch their international allegiance, commenting in relation to Ireland's qualifying campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
: "It wouldn't be something I'd be hugely in favour of" and "I'd be very disappointed if I was a player in that squad to miss out on the World Cup for somebody who was jumping on board at the last minute".
club Nuneaton Town, who won promotion in his first year there.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
former footballer who played as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played international football for the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
until his retirement in 2005. He spent his entire professional club career, from 1989 to 2007, in England, making more than 500 appearances in the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and Premier League playing for Millwall
Millwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
, Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
and Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
After retirement as a player, he worked as a pundit for RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
and on the coaching staff at English non-League
Non-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
club Nuneaton Town.
Early life and career
Cunningham was born in Dublin. He attended O'Connell's Boys primary school and St. Vincent's C.B.S.St. Vincent's C.B.S.
St Vincent's C.B.S secondary school, is a secondary school located in the district of Glasnevin, County Dublin, Ireland. The school contains roughly 300 students between the ages of 12 and 18. The school has around 30 teachers....
secondary school in the Glasnevin
Glasnevin
Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...
district. At school, he played more Gaelic football
Gaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
than soccer: he played for O'Connell's at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
alongside future Gaelic star Dessie Farrell
Dessie Farrell
Dessie Farrell is a former Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Dublin. He plays his club football for Na Fianna although his playing days may be numbered due to suffering a suspected torn cruciate ligament...
in a schools' final, and played for Na Fianna and Dublin Minors. At association football, he played for the Home Farm
Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
club from under-9s to under-17s, before moving on to amateur
Amateur
An amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without pay and often without formal training....
club Tolka Rovers
Tolka Rovers F.C.
Tolka Rovers F.C. are an amateur Irish football club based in Glasnevin, Dublin. They play in the Leinster Senior League and finished 6th in the 2006-07 season. They play at Frank Cooke Park and wear red shirts with white sleeves. The club's junior teams play at Johnstown Park...
.
Millwall
On 18 September 1989, the 18-year-old Cunningham signed a one-year contract with MillwallMillwall F.C.
Millwall Football Club is an English professional football club based in South Bermondsey, south east London, that plays in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football. Founded as Millwall Rovers in 1885, the club has retained its name despite having last played in the...
of the English First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
. His expectations, to play out the season in England and use the experience to earn himself a good contract back in Ireland, changed when, three months before the end of that "trial" season, Millwall offered him a further two-year contract. He made his Football League debut on 17 March 1990, at right back
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw away to Norwich City
Norwich City F.C.
Norwich City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Norwich, Norfolk. As of the 2011–12 season, Norwich City are again playing in the Premier League after a six-year absence, having finished as runner up in the Championship in 2010–11 and winning automatic promotion.The...
, and started four more first-team games during that season.
In five years with the club, he made 136 league appearances.
Wimbledon
Cunningham and team mate Jon GoodmanJon Goodman
Jonathan "Jon" Goodman is an Anglo-Irish former professional footballer, and was the Sports Scientist at Reading before leaving to concentrate on his consultancy business....
moved to Wimbledon
Wimbledon F.C.
Wimbledon Football Club was an English professional association football club from Wimbledon, south-west London. Founded in 1889 as Wimbledon Old Central Football Club, the club spent most of its history in amateur and semi-professional non-League football before being elected to the Football...
in November 1994, for the joint fee of £1,300,000. Cunningham played 250 league games for Wimbledon.
Birmingham City
Cunningham moved to Birmingham CityBirmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, newly promoted to the Premier League, in 2002 for a £600,000 fee. He went straight into the starting eleven, playing at centre back in place of injured captain Steve Vickers
Steve Vickers (footballer)
Stephen "Steve" Vickers , is an English former association footballer who played as a central defender. He made nearly 600 appearances in the Football League and the Premier League, the majority of which were for Tranmere Rovers and Middlesbrough...
rather than his customary right back. He formed a fine defensive partnership with Matthew Upson
Matthew Upson
Matthew James Upson is an English footballer who plays for Stoke City in the Premier League. He is a central defender and he has played for England at full international level including at the 2010 World Cup....
, who joined in the January transfer window, and at the end of that campaign, his teammates chose him as their Player of the Season.
After the first few matches of 2003–04, Birmingham's manager Steve Bruce
Steve Bruce
Stephen Roger "Steve" Bruce is an English football manager and former player. Born in Corbridge, Northumberland, he was a promising schoolboy footballer but was rejected by a number of professional clubs. He was on the verge of quitting the game altogether when he was offered a trial with Gillingham...
was describing Cunningham as "on current form ... the best defender in the Premiership". Nicknamed "King Kenny" by the fans, Cunningham had a reputation as an organised solid defender, and Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Ireland full-back Denis Irwin
Denis Irwin
Denis Joseph Irwin is a former Irish football player who is best known for his long and successful stint at Manchester United, where he established himself as one of the most important players in the United team that won a host of domestic and European trophies in his time there between 1990 and...
suggested in November 2003 that, though his ability had been under-rated in the past, "this year ... people are realising how good he actually is".
However after the club's relegation at the end of the 2005–06
2005-06 in English football
The 2005–06 season was the 126th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:*The rebuilt Wembley Stadium was due to open in time for the FA Cup final in May. However, in August 2005, The Football Association reserved the Millennium Stadium as a backup, as there was some doubt whether...
season, Cunningham was released along with seven other first team players. On 11 May 2006, Cunningham launched a scathing attack in the press on Bruce and the board, blaming the club's relegation on a lack of preparation throughout the season and likening the club to a "stiff corpse" that has "no heartbeat and, more worryingly, no soul". While fans were in the main supportive of Cunningham's views, the club reacted furiously, and chairman David Gold wondered "if Kenny would have said the same things if we'd stayed up, Portsmouth had gone down and he'd been given a lucrative new contract".
Sunderland
Cunningham signed for Sunderland on 19 July with Sunderland chairman Niall QuinnNiall Quinn
Niall John Quinn honorary MBE is a former Irish international footballer, and the ex-chairman of Sunderland AFC. He still works at the club as an overseas manager. He is also heavily involved in the management side of horse racing...
praising his leadership qualities. He made 11 appearances for the Black Cats as they won the Championship
Football League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
, but no more appearances after October when he was made captain by Keane before sustaining an injury. He was released by manager Roy Keane
Roy Keane
Roy Maurice Keane is an Irish former footballer and manager. In his 18-year playing career, he played for Cobh Ramblers in the League of Ireland, Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, before ending his career at Celtic in Scotland....
at the end of the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season.
After being released by Sunderland, Cunningham retired as a player.
International career
Cunningham won a total of 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football teamRepublic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
. In March 2001, he returned after a long layoff due to injury, replacing Richard Dunne
Richard Dunne
Richard Patrick Dunne is an Irish footballer who plays as a defender for Aston Villa and the Republic of Ireland national football team. With Ireland he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad and helped his team qualify for UEFA Euro 2012.Dunne began his professional career at Everton...
to partner Gary Breen
Gary Breen
Gary Patrick Breen is an Irish footballer who made more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League. He played for numerous clubs over a 20-year career, including more than 100 appearances each for Coventry City and Sunderland...
in defence for a match against Cyprus
Cyprus national football team
The Cyprus national football team represents Cyprus in association football and is controlled by the Cyprus Football Association, the governing body for football in Cyprus. Cyprus' home ground is the GSP Stadium in Nicosia and the current coach is Nikos Nioplias...
. Cunningham was named team captain after the 2002 FIFA World Cup
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
, "Kenny's qualities as a player are easy to see," manager McCarthy told a media conference
"From day one he has been a great influence.
"He is a talker on the pitch, he organises the players around him, and off the pitch he is a calm influence.
He retired from international football after achieving 72 caps at the age of 34 on 12 October 2005, following Ireland's draw with Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
at Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road
Lansdowne Road was a stadium in Dublin owned by the Irish Rugby Football Union that has been the location of a number of sports stadiums. It was used primarily for rugby union and for association football matches as well as some music concerts...
, which resulted in his team's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
.
Media career
Cunningham has since worked as a pundit for RTÉ SportRTÉ Sport
RTÉ Sport is a cross platform, integrated business division of Irish broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann, responsible for the provision of sport coverage on RTÉ Radio, RTÉ Television, and RTÉ.ie....
's coverage of the Premier League and for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
's coverage of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
matches.
He has also urged caution following a FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch their international allegiance, commenting in relation to Ireland's qualifying campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
: "It wouldn't be something I'd be hugely in favour of" and "I'd be very disappointed if I was a player in that squad to miss out on the World Cup for somebody who was jumping on board at the last minute".
Coaching career
Cunningham has been coaching at English non-leagueNon-league football
Non-League football is football in England played at a level below that of the Premier League and The Football League. The term non-League was commonly used well before 1992 when the top football clubs in England all belonged to The Football League; all clubs who were not a part of The Football...
club Nuneaton Town, who won promotion in his first year there.