Rob Kelly
Encyclopedia
Robert Anthony "Rob" Kelly (born 21 December 1964) is an English
former footballer and manager
. Recently caretaker manager at Nottingham Forest
, after Steve McClaren
's departure and prior to the appointment of Steve Cotterill. He has previously been manager of Leicester City
, and caretaker manager at Preston North End
and Sheffield Wednesday
.
, making his debut as a 19-year-old in a home game against Sunderland
at the end of the 1983/84 season. After making 18 starts for the Foxes (plus nine substitute appearances) and scoring one goal, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers
in 1986. As a youngster, he also received a call up to represent the Republic of Ireland
at youth level.
as youth team coach, Blackburn Rovers
as Academy Director, and then Leicester City.
After the sacking of Leicester manager Craig Levein
, following 18 months in charge, Kelly stepped up from his Assistant Manager role to take control on a caretaker basis.
In his first ten games in charge his team took 21 points from a possible 30, steering the side up the Championship table and away from the threat of relegation to League One
. He was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2006. This followed wins over relegation rivals Hull City
and Millwall
, as well as victory against Luton Town
and a creditable draw against Premiership-bound Reading
. In recognition of his achievements, on 14 April 2006 he signed a one-year rolling contract, confirming his status as manager.
On 11 April 2007 Kelly was sacked due to a poor run of results, his final game being a 3–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle
. He was replaced by Nigel Worthington
until the end of the season.
In May 2007 he joined Preston North End as part of the club's coaching staff. On 13 November 2007 he stepped up from his position as Assistant Manager to become Caretaker Manager, after the sacking of manager Paul Simpson
. Kelly spent just a week in the temporary position, and didn't oversee any first team action, as Alan Irvine
was appointed as the Club's new manager on 20 November 2007, with Kelly reverting to his role as assistant.
Kelly again acted as Caretaker Manager following the departure of Alan Irvine in December 2009, a 7–0 FA Cup win over Colchester being his only game in charge. He left the club following the appointment of Darren Ferguson
as manager, only to be re-united with Alan Irvine at Sheffield Wednesday, once more as Assistant Manager.
In February 2011 Kelly was appointed Caretaker Manager at Wednesday following the departure of Irvine, but left the club after Gary Megson was appointed as manager and made changes to the coaching staff.
Kelly joined Nottingham Forest
as assistant manager to Steve McClaren
in the summer of 2011, only to find himself as Caretaker Manager again in less than three months when McClaren resigned on 2 October after a dispute with the club's board. Steve Cotterill
was appointed the club's new manager on 14 October, though Kelly remained in caretaker charge of the team until the following day, when he managed the team to a defeat by Coventry City
. Following that match, Kelly reverted to being the club's assistant manager.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
former footballer and manager
Manager (association football)
In association football, a manager is responsible for running a football club or a national team. The manager of a professional club is responsible directly to the club president. The position of manager is almost exclusively used in British football...
. Recently caretaker manager at Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
, after Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
's departure and prior to the appointment of Steve Cotterill. He has previously been manager of 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...
, and caretaker manager at Preston North End
Preston North End F.C.
Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One...
and Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
.
Playing career
Kelly began his career at Leicester CityLeicester 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...
, making his debut as a 19-year-old in a home game against 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...
at the end of the 1983/84 season. After making 18 starts for the Foxes (plus nine substitute appearances) and scoring one goal, he joined 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...
in 1986. As a youngster, he also received a call up to represent the Republic of Ireland
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,...
at youth level.
Coaching career
In 1989, Kelly was forced to retire aged just 24 after sustaining a back injury, and initially took the job of youth team coach at Wolves. He then trained as a journalist at the Wolverhampton Express & Star, before returning to football, first back in the Wolves coaching set-up, then moving to WatfordWatford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
as youth team coach, Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers F.C.
Blackburn Rovers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the town of Blackburn, Lancashire. The team currently competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football....
as Academy Director, and then Leicester City.
After the sacking of Leicester manager 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...
, following 18 months in charge, Kelly stepped up from his Assistant Manager role to take control on a caretaker basis.
In his first ten games in charge his team took 21 points from a possible 30, steering the side up the Championship table and away from the threat of relegation to League One
Football League One
Football League One is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system....
. He was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2006. This followed wins over relegation rivals Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
and 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...
, as well as victory against Luton Town
Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and a creditable draw against Premiership-bound Reading
Reading F.C.
Reading Football Club is an English association football club based in the town of Reading, Berkshire who currently play in the Championship...
. In recognition of his achievements, on 14 April 2006 he signed a one-year rolling contract, confirming his status as manager.
On 11 April 2007 Kelly was sacked due to a poor run of results, his final game being a 3–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
. He was replaced by Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington
Nigel Worthington is a former Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.He was manager of the Northern Ireland national team from 2007 until after their final Euro 2012 qualifying campaign match against Italy in October 2011.As a player, he was a left full back and occasional left...
until the end of the season.
In May 2007 he joined Preston North End as part of the club's coaching staff. On 13 November 2007 he stepped up from his position as Assistant Manager to become Caretaker Manager, after the sacking of manager Paul Simpson
Paul Simpson (footballer)
Paul David Simpson is an English former footballer and manager. His son Jake is also a professional footballer.-Manchester City:...
. Kelly spent just a week in the temporary position, and didn't oversee any first team action, as Alan Irvine
Alan Irvine
James Alan Irvine , more commonly known as Alan Irvine, is a Scottish former football player and manager, currently in charge of the Everton academy. Irvine played for five different clubs in Scotland and England during a 15 year playing career. He then became a coach, assisting Davie Moyes at...
was appointed as the Club's new manager on 20 November 2007, with Kelly reverting to his role as assistant.
Kelly again acted as Caretaker Manager following the departure of Alan Irvine in December 2009, a 7–0 FA Cup win over Colchester being his only game in charge. He left the club following the appointment of Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson
Darren Ferguson is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently in his second spell as the manager of Peterborough United...
as manager, only to be re-united with Alan Irvine at Sheffield Wednesday, once more as Assistant Manager.
In February 2011 Kelly was appointed Caretaker Manager at Wednesday following the departure of Irvine, but left the club after Gary Megson was appointed as manager and made changes to the coaching staff.
Kelly joined Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest F.C.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship...
as assistant manager to Steve McClaren
Steve McClaren
Stephen "Steve" McClaren is an English football manager and former player.McClaren was previously manager of VfL Wolfsburg in Germany between May 2010 and February 2011, having left his post at Dutch side FC Twente, with whom he won the club's first Eredivisie championship in the 2009–10 season...
in the summer of 2011, only to find himself as Caretaker Manager again in less than three months when McClaren resigned on 2 October after a dispute with the club's board. Steve Cotterill
Steve Cotterill
Stephen "Steve" Cotterill is an English former footballer who is manager of Nottingham Forest.-Playing career:...
was appointed the club's new manager on 14 October, though Kelly remained in caretaker charge of the team until the following day, when he managed the team to a defeat by Coventry City
Coventry 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...
. Following that match, Kelly reverted to being the club's assistant manager.
Managerial statistics
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| 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... |
 |
25 January 2006 | 11 April 2007 | 63 | 21 | 19 | 23 | 33.3 |
| Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... (caretaker) |
|
13 November 2007 | 20 November 2007 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Preston North End Preston North End F.C. Preston North End Football Club is an English professional football club located in the Deepdale area of the city of Preston, Lancashire, currently playing in the third tier of English league football, League One... (caretaker) |
|
29 December 2009 | 6 January 2010 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.0 |
| Sheffield Wednesday Sheffield Wednesday F.C. Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the... (caretaker) |
|
3 February 2011 | 4 February 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| Nottingham Forest Nottingham Forest F.C. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English Association Football club based in West Bridgford, Nottingham, that plays in the Football League Championship... (caretaker) |
|
2 October 2011 | 15 October 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.0 |