Kevin Kyle
Encyclopedia
Kevin Alistair Kyle is a Scottish footballer who plays as a centre forward for SPL
club Hearts.
region. Also in the same Dumfries and Galloway team was fellow Stranraer boy Allan Jenkins
.
, where he was a prolific scorer for their reserves. However, he was unable to force his way into a first team that boasted the striking talent of Kevin Phillips
and Niall Quinn
. Instead, he gained first team experience on loan at several lower league clubs. It was on loan at Darlington
that Kyle scored his first career goals, notching against Sudbury in the FA Cup and Mansfield Town
in the league.
After finally breaking into the Sunderland first team in the 2003–04 season
he ended up as their joint top goalscorer with 16 goals to help them to the play-offs. However, he missed most of the following season owing to a hip injury and his recovery was aided by visits to Bayern Munich
doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth
. He returned to first team action in February 2006, scoring his first and only Premier League goal in March 2006, away to Manchester City
, in a season that saw Sunderland relegated on a then-record low points tally (subsequently beaten by )
on 25 August 2006 for £600,000, but only went on to score 3 goals during the campaign. He scored just two more. Out of favour with the Sky Blues fans, he went on loan to fellow Championship
side Wolverhampton Wanderers
during the latter half of the 2007–08 season. He made 13 appearances, 9 as substitute, scoring once against Crystal Palace, as the club could not even make the play-offs this move was not made permanent as Kyle said he would rather return to Coventry in the summer. After failing to feature at all during the opening stages of the next season for his parent club, he joined Hartlepool United
on a month's loan on 1 October 2008. The loan was later extended until the end of the year, and Kyle scored 5 goals in 15 starts.
on an 18-month contract. He scored on his debut for Kilmarnock against St Mirren and this goal was also the first at the new St Mirren Park. On 11 April he scored all three goals, his first ever professional hat-trick
, in a 3–0 victory against Falkirk for which he received a standing ovation when he was substituted. Kyle has been accredited with keeping Killie in the top tier of Scottish football almost single-handedly. In the games following the 2008/2009 season Scottish Premier League
split, Kyle scored all of Kilmarnock's goals in a draw with Falkirk and victories against St Mirren and Inverness Caledonian Thistle thus helping the team secure 8th place and SPL survival.
Kyle was made Kilmarnock club captain for the 2009–10 season. He started where he left off by scoring twice in the opening day 3–0 home victory over Hamilton and his good form won him a recall to the Scotland squad after an absence of five years. In the CIS Cup
game against Morton (in which he also scored) he suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for 3 weeks and causing him to miss the final two World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland on 5 and 10 September 2009. In January 2010 he relinquished the club captaincy following his involvement in the events that ultimately led to the departure of manager Jim Jefferies
.
s at the club and scored six goals from the spot, plus another four from open play, in the 2010– 11 season. He scored a late winner in the Edinburgh derby
against Hibernian
on 1 January 2011. The remainder of his 2010–11 season was blighted by a hip injury, as Kyle made his last appearance of the season on 11 January.
The injury continued to trouble Kyle in the 2011–12 season.
:
Individual:
SPL
-Sporting Leagues:*Scottish Premier League, or Clydesdale Bank Premier League, the highest professional football league in Scotland*Saudi Premier League, or Zain Saudi Premier League, the highest professional football league in Saudi Arabia...
club Hearts.
Early life
Kyle grew up in Stranraer where as well as playing for his school team and local amateur sides he was selected to play for Dumfries and GallowayDumfries and Galloway
Dumfries and Galloway is one of 32 unitary council areas of Scotland. It was one of the nine administrative 'regions' of mainland Scotland created in 1975 by the Local Government etc. Act 1973...
region. Also in the same Dumfries and Galloway team was fellow Stranraer boy Allan Jenkins
Allan Jenkins (footballer)
Allan Jenkins is a Scottish professional footballer, who is currently captaining IFA Premiership side Ballymena United....
.
Sunderland
Kyle began his senior career at SunderlandSunderland 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...
, where he was a prolific scorer for their reserves. However, he was unable to force his way into a first team that boasted the striking talent of Kevin Phillips
Kevin Phillips (footballer)
Kevin Mark Phillips is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Blackpool.Phillips was the Premier League top scorer in the 1999–2000 season with 30 goals for Sunderland, a tally which won him the European Golden Shoe. He remains the only Englishman to win the trophy...
and Niall Quinn
Niall 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...
. Instead, he gained first team experience on loan at several lower league clubs. It was on loan at Darlington
Darlington F.C.
Darlington Football Club is a professional association football club based in Darlington, County Durham, currently playing in the Conference National. The club was founded in 1883, and originally played its games at Feethams, before moving to the Darlington Arena in 2003...
that Kyle scored his first career goals, notching against Sudbury in the FA Cup and Mansfield Town
Mansfield Town F.C.
Mansfield Town Football Club is an English football club from the former mining town of Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. The club was formed in 1897 as Mansfield Wesleyans and changed its name to Mansfield Wesley in 1906 before settling on Mansfield Town in 1910...
in the league.
After finally breaking into the Sunderland first team in the 2003–04 season
2003-04 in English football
The 2003-04 season was the 124th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:Arsenal completed the entire campaign without losing a single league game....
he ended up as their joint top goalscorer with 16 goals to help them to the play-offs. However, he missed most of the following season owing to a hip injury and his recovery was aided by visits to Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth
Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfarth
Dr. Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt is the club doctor at Bayern Munich and is a world leader in the treatment of sports injuries....
. He returned to first team action in February 2006, scoring his first and only Premier League goal in March 2006, away to Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, in a season that saw Sunderland relegated on a then-record low points tally (subsequently beaten by )
Coventry City
Kyle then joined Coventry CityCoventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on 25 August 2006 for £600,000, but only went on to score 3 goals during the campaign. He scored just two more. Out of favour with the Sky Blues fans, he went on loan to fellow 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...
side Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
during the latter half of the 2007–08 season. He made 13 appearances, 9 as substitute, scoring once against Crystal Palace, as the club could not even make the play-offs this move was not made permanent as Kyle said he would rather return to Coventry in the summer. After failing to feature at all during the opening stages of the next season for his parent club, he joined Hartlepool United
Hartlepool United F.C.
Hartlepool United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Hartlepool that currently play in League One. The team won promotion to League One in the 2006–07 season...
on a month's loan on 1 October 2008. The loan was later extended until the end of the year, and Kyle scored 5 goals in 15 starts.
Kilmarnock
On 27 January 2009, Coventry announced that they had reached an agreement with Kyle over the remaining six months of his contract, and he had left the club by mutual consent. Two days later, he signed for KilmarnockKilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
on an 18-month contract. He scored on his debut for Kilmarnock against St Mirren and this goal was also the first at the new St Mirren Park. On 11 April he scored all three goals, his first ever professional hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
, in a 3–0 victory against Falkirk for which he received a standing ovation when he was substituted. Kyle has been accredited with keeping Killie in the top tier of Scottish football almost single-handedly. In the games following the 2008/2009 season Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
split, Kyle scored all of Kilmarnock's goals in a draw with Falkirk and victories against St Mirren and Inverness Caledonian Thistle thus helping the team secure 8th place and SPL survival.
Kyle was made Kilmarnock club captain for the 2009–10 season. He started where he left off by scoring twice in the opening day 3–0 home victory over Hamilton and his good form won him a recall to the Scotland squad after an absence of five years. In the CIS Cup
Scottish League Cup
The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by...
game against Morton (in which he also scored) he suffered a knee injury, sidelining him for 3 weeks and causing him to miss the final two World Cup qualifiers against Macedonia and Holland on 5 and 10 September 2009. In January 2010 he relinquished the club captaincy following his involvement in the events that ultimately led to the departure of manager Jim Jefferies
Jim Jefferies
James "Jim" Jefferies is a Scottish football former player and manager. Jefferies played for Heart of Midlothian for almost his whole playing career and enjoyed a successful first managerial spell with the club, winning the 1998 Scottish Cup...
.
Hearts
Kyle signed a two year contract with Hearts on 3 June 2010, which reunited him with Jim Jefferies. He took over taking penalty kickPenalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
s at the club and scored six goals from the spot, plus another four from open play, in the 2010– 11 season. He scored a late winner in the Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
against Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
on 1 January 2011. The remainder of his 2010–11 season was blighted by a hip injury, as Kyle made his last appearance of the season on 11 January.
The injury continued to trouble Kyle in the 2011–12 season.
Statistics
| Club | Season | League | Scottish Cup Scottish Cup The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The... |
League Cup Scottish League Cup The Scottish League Cup is a football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs. At present it is also known as the Scottish Communities League Cup owing to the sponsorship deal in place with the Scottish Government. In the past it has been sponsored by... |
Europe UEFA The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer.... |
Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| 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... |
2010–11 | 19 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 10 |
Honours
SunderlandSunderland 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...
:
- Football League ChampionshipFootball League ChampionshipThe 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...
Champions: 2004–05
Individual:
- North East Football Award - young player of the year: 2004