Kenny Black
Encyclopedia
Kenneth George "Kenny" Black (born 29 November 1963 in Stenhousemuir
) is a retired Scottish footballer
and former manager of Airdrie United
. He is currently a part of Craig Levein's Scotland
set-up, as well as assistant manager to Stuart McCall
at Motherwell
.
A left-sided defender or midfielder, Black began his playing career with Rangers
in 1980 but was farmed out to Junior
side Linlithgow Rose
to gain competitive experience. He left Ibrox
permanently in 1983 for Motherwell
, before joining Heart of Midlothian
for £30,000 a year later.
Black was part of the Maroons side that missed out on a League and Cup double in 1985-86
before moving south when Portsmouth
's £350,000 bid was accepted in 1989. He was reunited with former boss Alex MacDonald in 1991 when he joined Airdrieonians
and won his first senior medal with the Diamonds, when they defeated Dundee
in the 1994-95
Scottish Challenge Cup.
In 1999 Black moved to Raith Rovers
. By now a veteran, he played for a further two seasons before being appointed joint assistant-manager of the Kirkcaldy
side in 2001. Managerial changes saw him leave Starks Park in early 2002 but he found a new position as assistant to former Airdrie team-mate Sandy Stewart at Airdrie United, the reincarnation of Airdrieonians, later that year.
Black left Airdrie United for Leicester City
in 2004, gaining a coaching position under Craig Levein
. His contract at the Walkers Stadium
ended when Levein was sacked in 2006 and he sealed a return to Airdrie later that year, this time as manager.
Black's managerial record at Airdrie United was sadly not to be as successful as his time as a player. Despite signing some reasonable players, and guiding the team to an Alba Challenge Cup Final win against Ross County in 2008, he will be remembered for an uninspiring league record that saw the club lose four 1st/ 2nd Division play off games over the course of his tenure.
Thus, on the evening of June 15, 2010, the website of The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser reported that despite no official statement from the club, Kenny Black had "parted company" with Airdrie United. A few days later it was confirmed by the club that Black had been "relieved of his duties".
Events took a twist on 23 June however, as the BBC reported that Black and the club had failed to agree on a compensation deal to cover the remaining 2 years on his contract, and that Black was still being paid. Black was said to be seeking legal advice on the matter.
On July 15, 2010 it was announced that Kenny Black had been appointed as an assistant coach at the Scotland national team
, and that he had come to an agreement with Airdrie United over compensation.
On 19 January 2011, Black was appointed assistant manager at Motherwell
.
Stenhousemuir
Stenhousemuir is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley within the Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town is north-northwest of Falkirk and directly adjoins to Larbert in the west. The villages of Carron and Carronshore adjoin Stenhousemuir to the east but...
) is a retired Scottish footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and former manager of Airdrie United
Airdrie United F.C.
Airdrie United Football Club are a Scottish professional football team based in the town of Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. They are currently managed by ex-Airdrieonians player and former Airdrie United Under 19s coach Jimmy Boyle. They are members of the Scottish Football League and play in the...
. He is currently a part of Craig Levein's Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
set-up, as well as assistant manager to Stuart McCall
Stuart McCall
Andrew Stuart Murray McCall , usually known as Stuart McCall, is a former footballer who played in central midfield. He played a total of 763 league games during his career, the 13th highest of all British footballers...
at Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
A left-sided defender or midfielder, Black began his playing career with Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1980 but was farmed out to Junior
Scottish Junior Football Association
The Scottish Junior Football Association is an affiliated national association of the Scottish Football Association and is the governing body for the Junior grade of football in Scotland. The term "Junior" refers to the level of football played...
side Linlithgow Rose
Linlithgow Rose F.C.
Linlithgow Rose F.C. are a Scottish junior association football club from Linlithgow, West Lothian who play in the East Region Super League...
to gain competitive experience. He left Ibrox
Ibrox Stadium
Ibrox Stadium is a football stadium located on the south side of the River Clyde, on Edmiston Drive in the Ibrox district of Glasgow. It is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Rangers and has an all-seated capacity of 51,082...
permanently in 1983 for Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
, before joining Heart of Midlothian
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
for £30,000 a year later.
Black was part of the Maroons side that missed out on a League and Cup double in 1985-86
1985-86 in Scottish football
The 1985–86 season was the 89th season of competitive football in Scotland.-Key events:With Rangers once again failing to mount a title challenge, manager Jock Wallace's second spell as manager ended in April when he was sacked and the club appointed Graeme Souness as player-manager,...
before moving south when Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
's £350,000 bid was accepted in 1989. He was reunited with former boss Alex MacDonald in 1991 when he joined Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
and won his first senior medal with the Diamonds, when they defeated Dundee
Dundee F.C.
Dundee Football Club, founded in 1893, are a football club based in the city of Dundee, Scotland. They are nicknamed The Dee or The Dark Blues and play their home matches at Dens Park. Their shirt colour is dark blue. Dundee currently play in the Scottish First Division, having been relegated from...
in the 1994-95
1994-95 in Scottish football
The 1994–95 season was the 98th season of competitive football in Scotland. This season seen the re-introduction of the Scottish 3rd division, after an absence of 26 years, and also the introduction of three points for a win being awarded instead of just two.-Notable events:*Raith Rovers...
Scottish Challenge Cup.
In 1999 Black moved to Raith Rovers
Raith Rovers F.C.
Raith Rovers Football Club is a Scottish professional football club based in Kirkcaldy, Fife. They are members of the Scottish Football League, currently playing in the First Division, having secured promotion from the Second Division as champions in 2009. Rovers have won one national trophy, the...
. By now a veteran, he played for a further two seasons before being appointed joint assistant-manager of the Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy
Kirkcaldy is a town and former royal burgh in Fife, on the east coast of Scotland. The town lies on a shallow bay on the northern shore of the Firth of Forth; SSE of Glenrothes, ENE of Dunfermline, WSW of Dundee and NNE of Edinburgh...
side in 2001. Managerial changes saw him leave Starks Park in early 2002 but he found a new position as assistant to former Airdrie team-mate Sandy Stewart at Airdrie United, the reincarnation of Airdrieonians, later that year.
Black left Airdrie United for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in 2004, gaining a coaching position under Craig Levein
Craig Levein
Craig William Levein is a Scottish former professional footballer and manager of the Scotland national team. During his playing career he played for Cowdenbeath and Heart of Midlothian...
. His contract at the Walkers Stadium
Walkers Stadium
The King Power Stadium is a football stadium which hosts home matches of English football club Leicester City. The all-seater stadium, inaugurated in July 2002, holds 32,500 and has the 19th largest stadium capacity in England. The stadium is named after King Power, a company owned by club owner...
ended when Levein was sacked in 2006 and he sealed a return to Airdrie later that year, this time as manager.
Black's managerial record at Airdrie United was sadly not to be as successful as his time as a player. Despite signing some reasonable players, and guiding the team to an Alba Challenge Cup Final win against Ross County in 2008, he will be remembered for an uninspiring league record that saw the club lose four 1st/ 2nd Division play off games over the course of his tenure.
Thus, on the evening of June 15, 2010, the website of The Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser reported that despite no official statement from the club, Kenny Black had "parted company" with Airdrie United. A few days later it was confirmed by the club that Black had been "relieved of his duties".
Events took a twist on 23 June however, as the BBC reported that Black and the club had failed to agree on a compensation deal to cover the remaining 2 years on his contract, and that Black was still being paid. Black was said to be seeking legal advice on the matter.
On July 15, 2010 it was announced that Kenny Black had been appointed as an assistant coach at the Scotland national team
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, and that he had come to an agreement with Airdrie United over compensation.
On 19 January 2011, Black was appointed assistant manager at Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
.
External links
- Appearances at londonhearts.com