Stephen Kelly
Kelly with the Republic of Ireland national team before UEFA Euro 2012
Personal information
Full name Stephen Michael David Kelly[1]
Date of birth (1983-09-06) 6 September 1983[1]
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
Belvedere
0000–2000 Tottenham Hotspur
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2006 Tottenham Hotspur 37 (2)
2003 → Southend United (loan) 10 (0)
2003 → Queens Park Rangers (loan) 7 (0)
2003 → Watford (loan) 13 (0)
2006–2009 Birmingham City 79 (0)
2009 → Stoke City (loan) 6 (0)
2009–2013 Fulham 44 (0)
2013–2015 Reading 46 (1)
2015–2017 Rotherham United 35 (0)
Total 277 (3)
International career
1999–2000 Republic of Ireland U16 12 (1)
2002–2003 Republic of Ireland U20
2003–2005 Republic of Ireland U21 17 (0)
2006–2014 Republic of Ireland 39 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Stephen Michael David Kelly (born 6 September 1983) is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a right back. He was part of the team that secured the Republic of Ireland's qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.

Kelly began his professional career at Tottenham Hotspur and also played for Southend United, Queens Park Rangers, Watford, Birmingham City, Stoke City, Fulham and Reading before joining his final club, Rotherham United, in 2015. He was capped 39 times for the Republic of Ireland.

Club career

Tottenham Hotspur

Kelly was born in Dublin, where he played football for Belvedere before joining Tottenham Hotspur through their youth programme.[1][3] He was something of an understudy to Stephen Carr (who was subsequently transferred to Newcastle United) and then to Paul Stalteri. He made his Spurs first team debut in 2003 and then went on to make 37 Premier League appearances, scoring two league goals, against Birmingham City[4] and Aston Villa.[5]

Birmingham City

Birmingham City were reported to have agreed a deal to sign Kelly in January 2006 before Tottenham's shortage of defenders put a stop to the move.[6] He did join Birmingham, however, on 28 June for an initial fee of £750,000, potentially rising to £1.25 million depending on his success with the club.[7] He made 36 appearances in the 2006–07 Championship as Birmingham were promoted as runners-up.[8][9]

Kelly was the only outfield player in the 2007–08 Premier League season to play every minute of every game for his club.[10]

Stoke City (loan)

On 4 February 2009, Kelly joined Stoke City on loan from Birmingham City until the end of the 2008–09 season. Stoke City had to wait for 36 hours after the January transfer window shut for confirmation of the deal.[11] Kelly made his Stoke debut in their next game, a 2–0 defeat to Sunderland,[12] but picked up a hamstring injury while on international duty which kept him out of Stoke's next fixture.[13]

Fulham

Kelly playing for Fulham in 2009

On 16 June 2009, Kelly signed a three-year contract with Fulham, making him the club's first signing of the 2009 summer window. He said he was delighted to join the Cottagers and was looking forward to representing the club in both the Premier League and Europa League.[14] He helped Fulham reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final, playing in their memorable win against Juventus on the way, but he was left out of the squad for the final itself.[15][16]

Reading

Kelly joined Reading on 11 January 2013, signing a 2+1⁄2-year contract.[17] He made his debut on 19 January in Reading's 2–1 away win over Newcastle United at St James' Park, made his home debut a week later against Sheffield United in a 4–0 FA Cup win, and soon afterwards, stated that "regardless of what happens now and for the rest of the season, coming here is the best decision I've made in football".[18] Kelly started every game in what remained of the season, and the team were relegated to the Championship.

He was allocated squad number 3 for the 2013–14 season.[19] Kelly scored his first goal for Reading on 1 January 2014, a 95th-minute header from Royston Drenthe's free kick that gave his side a draw at home to Nottingham Forest.[20]

Kelly left Reading at the end of the 2014–15 season, despite being offered a new contract by the club.[21]

Rotherham United

On 19 November 2015, Kelly joined Championship club Rotherham United until the end of the 2015–16 season.[22] He left the club at the end of the 2016–17 season.[23]

International career

Kelly won Irish caps at junior levels and became a member of the senior Irish national squad, making his debut versus Chile. He represented the Republic of Ireland Under-16 team at the 2000 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship and the Under-20 team at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship.

On 29 March 2011, Kelly was named as Ireland captain for the friendly against Uruguay at the Aviva Stadium.[24]

He was a squad member at UEFA Euro 2012 but saw no game time. Then, despite injuries to Richard Dunne and Sean St Ledger, manager Giovanni Trapattoni left him on the bench for the 6-1 home defeat to Germany in 2014 World Cup qualifying. Days later, Kelly had a training ground row with assistant manager Marco Tardelli, and was left so upset by the incident that he did not want to board the plane for the game against the Faroe Islands.[25][26]

Career statistics

Club

Kelly playing for Fulham in 2009
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Tottenham Hotspur 2002–03[27] Premier League000000—00
2003–04[28] Premier League11000——110
2004–05[29] Premier League1725010—232
2005–06[30] Premier League901000—100
Total 3726010—442
Southend United (loan) 2002–03[27] Third Division100———100
Queens Park Rangers (loan) 2002–03[27] Second Division 70——2[lower-alpha 1]090
Watford (loan) 2003–04[28] First Division130———130
Birmingham City 2006–07[8] Championship3601040—410
2007–08[31] Premier League3801010—400
2008–09[32] Championship501010—70
Total 7903060—880
Stoke City (loan) 2008–09[32] Premier League60———60
Fulham 2009–10[33] Premier League80301010[lower-alpha 2]0220
2010–11[34] Premier League1000020—120
2011–12[35] Premier League24020107[lower-alpha 2]0340
2012–13[36] Premier League200010—30
Total 4405050170710
Reading 2012–13[36] Premier League16020——180
2013–14[37] Championship1511000—161
2014–15[38] Championship1503000—180
Total 4616000—521
Rotherham United 2015–16[39] Championship15000——150
2016–17[40] Championship2000000—200
Total 3500000—350
Career total 27732001201903283

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[41]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Republic of Ireland 200630
200760
200830
200930
201050
201190
201230
201350
201420
Total390

Honours

Birmingham City

Fulham

International

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream. p. 233. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ↑ "Stephen Kelly". UEFA. 12 May 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2017.
  3. ↑ "Past Players". Belvedere F.C. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  4. ↑ "Birmingham 1–1 Tottenham". BBC Sport. 2 April 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  5. ↑ "Tottenham 5–1 Aston Villa". BBC Sport. 1 May 2005. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  6. ↑ "Football spy: Blues eye Kelly deal". The Mirror. London. 2 February 2006. p. 65. Retrieved 16 September 2021 – via Gale OneFile: News.
  7. ↑ "Kelly completes Birmingham switch". BBC Sport. 28 June 2006. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
  8. 1 2 3 "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  9. 1 2 Mercer, Nathan (6 May 2007). "Championship clockwatch". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  10. ↑ "Opta stats: The Premier League season in numbers". The Guardian. London. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 19 May 2008.
  11. ↑ "Stoke complete Kelly loan switch". BBC Sport. 4 February 2009. Retrieved 7 February 2009.
  12. ↑ "Stoke City: Kelly's return delights Reid". The Sentinel. Stoke-on-Trent. 9 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2009.
  13. ↑ "Stoke v Portsmouth preview". Sky Sports. 20 February 2009. Archived from the original on 23 February 2009.
  14. ↑ "Kelly signs". Fulham F.C. 16 June 2009. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 23 October 2013.
  15. ↑ Dawkes, Phil (18 March 2010). "Fulham 4–1 Juventus (agg 5–4)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 March 2020.
  16. 1 2 Murtagh, Jacob (1 December 2011). "Fulham star wants to make up for Europa League heartbreak". MyLondon. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  17. ↑ "Kelly signs". Reading F.C. 11 January 2013. Archived from the original on 14 January 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Rostron-Pike, Nick (4 February 2013). "Stephen Kelly: Move from Fulham to Reading was best decision of my career". Talksport. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  19. ↑ "Squad numbers submitted". Reading F.C. 25 July 2013. Archived from the original on 27 July 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  20. ↑ Watts, Charles (1 January 2014). "Kelly rescues Royals with dramatic late equaliser". BerkshireLive. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  21. ↑ Watts, Charles (22 July 2015). "Stephen Kelly leaves Reading FC after new contract offer is left unsigned". Reading Post. Retrieved 22 July 2015.
  22. ↑ "Kelly puts pen-to-paper with Millers". Rotherham United F.C. 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  23. ↑ "Read: Eight players released by Millers". Rotherham United F.C. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 11 May 2017.
  24. ↑ Hytner, David (28 March 2011). "Fulham's Stephen Kelly to captain Republic of Ireland against Uruguay". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  25. ↑ "World Cup qualifier: Rep of Ireland v Germany (Fri)". BBC Sport. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Stephen Kelly in management bust-up – reports". The 42. 15 October 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  27. 1 2 3 "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  28. 1 2 "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  29. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  30. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  31. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  32. 1 2 "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  33. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  34. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  35. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  36. 1 2 "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  37. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  38. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 20 January 2016.
  39. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 7 January 2017.
  40. ↑ "Games played by Stephen Kelly in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  41. ↑ "Kelly, Stephen". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  42. ↑ Lindsay, Clive (29 May 2011). "Republic of Ireland 1–0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
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