Dean Kiely is back with the Ireland football team, not the first time that’s been said; this time he takes the position of goalkeeper coach.
Kiely was an excellent goalkeeper, playing the majority of his career in the premier league for Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion.
18 clean sheets in 2008 saw him win the championship golden glove and help West Brom win promotion that season.
Some record! But for his International career with the Ireland senior team, just 11 caps between 1999 and 2008. A remarkably low number for a goalkeeper with such a laden cupboard.
Although Kiely’s low cap rate, is more down to competition for places then poor form or the “He just wasn’t any good line”.
Kiely made his debut in the Euro 2000 play-off game with Turkey, after Alan Kelly injured himself during the game. The second-leg five days later, saw his second cap in another missed play-off from the Irish.
While Kiely was a top class goalkeeper, Ireland at that stage, had probably the best goalkeeper in the premier league, Shay Given.
Alan Kelly also was a top class keeper, never putting a foot wrong in green. Mick McCarthy was spoilt for choice with three premier league class goalkeepers to choose from.
Kiely himself kept goal for Brian Kerr’s first game; a 2-0 away win to Scotland. However two months later Kiely retired from international football, the only real and visible reason being that Kerr had given the number one jersey to Given and Kiely didn’t fancy gathering splinters on the bench.
Five years later his retirement ended as Giovani Trappatoni became Ireland gaffer; Liam Brady immediately highlighting a role for the now 37-year-old.
However opportunities were limited, even though starting Trap’s first two games, a 1-1 draw with Serbia and a 1-0 win over Colombia.
Trapp’s decision to give a debut to Kieran Westwood in 2009 saw Kiely walk out of the Irish panel and into retirement again.
12-years later and Kiely is back working with the Ireland team; albeit their backroom staff and taking over the reins from Alan Kelly for what looks like a daunting attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Cup.
For many Kiely joins the likes of Roy Keane and Stephen Ireland as a deserter, in Kiely’s case many would find some form of argument.
Unlike Keane or Ireland’s departure, both quality midfielders, a position Ireland have never been engrossed with options. Kiely was second choice behind Shay Given with Alan Kelly, Nick Colgan and latterly Kieran Westwood appearing to be stable deputes.
For Kiely the lack of caps isn’t a reflection on his abilities, Kiely himself helped keep Keith Brannigan to a solitary appearance.
The Bolton goalkeeper having twice won the Championship goalkeeper of the year award.
Sometimes, you can just be unlucky when it comes to competition in your position.
At one stage in the Charlton era, Ireland fielded a side with double winning Manchester United left-back Denis Irwin at right-back. Manchester City’s Terry Phelan at left-back. Established Aston Villa left-back Steve Staunton at left-wing and Leeds United’s right-back Gary Kelly at right-wing!
Jeff Kenna who had won the premier league with Blackburn Rovers and could play right or left-back couldn’t get a game!
A similar issue occurred early in the Charlton era, Paul McGrath was a rock at the heart of Manchester United’s defence yet was playing first at right-back and then central-midfield for Ireland.
Charlton admitted McGrath’s best position was centre-back, but Kevin Moran, Mick McCarthy and David O’Leary allowed Charlton to shuffle his pack, to some success as centre-field McGrath was named on the Italia’ 90 team of the tournament.
It’s not just the Irish soccer team who have had (unfortunately not currently) this issue. Remember England’s famous Gerrard/Lampard debate, when Paul Scholes was the best of the three of them?
Or readers of a certain vintage will remember Irish rugby’s battle between Ollie Campbell and Tony Ward.
Unfortunately there was one unavoidable problem that Dean Kiely ran into, he couldn’t change position. A goalkeeper is a goalkeeper no matter what. Or as Ruud Guilt said; “A goalkeeper is a goalkeeper because their bad footballers!”
Never the less Kiely’s appointment to Kenny’s backroom team is slightly surprising. Steve Williams having been Kenny’s goalie coach at Dundalk, with Dan Conor the Irish U21 coach.
Alan Kelly was the only member of Mick McCarthy’s backroom staff retained, so the question arises how has Kenny developed a relationship with Kiely? A man with not the greatest FAI relationship.
Alan Kelly and Damien Duff’s departure from Kenny’s backroom team have raised questions that really shouldn’t be asked, but no wins from eight games certainly doesn’t help.
With just about seven weeks to go before we face Portugal, the heat is not going to get any cooler and Kenny cant risk any more quitters.
