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Rob Kelly

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For other people with the same name, see Robert Kelly.

Rob Kelly
Personal information
Full name Robert Anthony Kelly
Date of birth (1964-12-21) 21 December 1964 (age 59)
Place of birth Birmingham, England
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)[1]
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
1981–1984 Leicester City
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1984–1986 Leicester City 24 (1)
1984–1985 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) 5 (2)
1986–1989 Wolverhampton Wanderers 16 (2)
19890000 Burton Albion
Total 45 (5)
Managerial career
2006–2007 Leicester City
2007 Preston North End (caretaker)
2009–2010 Preston North End (caretaker)
2011 Sheffield Wednesday (caretaker)
2011 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2012 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2013 Nottingham Forest (caretaker)
2020 Barrow (caretaker)
2021 Barrow (caretaker)
2022 Wigan Athletic (caretaker)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Anthony Kelly (born 21 December 1964) is an English former footballer and manager.

He is best known for his spell as manager of Leicester City, as well as being assistant manager at several clubs, he has also been a caretaker manager at Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion.

Playing career

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Kelly began his career at Leicester City, making his debut as a 19-year-old in a home game against Sunderland at the end of the 1983/84 season. He also had a brief loan spell at Tranmere Rovers. 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 Ireland at youth level.

Coaching career

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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 Wolverhampton Wanderers. He then trained as a journalist at the Wolverhampton Express & Star, before returning to football again, first back in the Wolverhampton Wanderers coaching set-up. He then moved to Watford as youth team coach, Blackburn Rovers as Academy Director, and then Leicester City.

Leicester City manager

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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.

Preston North End

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In May 2007 he joined Preston North End as part of the club's coaching staff.[2] After the sacking of manager Paul Simpson.[3] The club appointed Alan Irvine as the Club's new manager on 20 November 2007, with Kelly his assistant. In the season 2008/2009, Preston with Irvine and Kelly reached the Championship Play-Off's. Narrowly missing out on a place in the final, losing 2-1 on aggregate to Sheffield United.

Kelly 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.

Sheffield Wednesday

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Kelly re-united with Alan Irvine at Sheffield Wednesday, once more as assistant manager. After Irvine left the Owls in February 2011,[4] Kelly also departed after Gary Megson was appointed as manager and made changes to the coaching staff.[5]

Nottingham Forest

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Kelly joined Nottingham Forest as assistant manager to Steve McClaren's backroom team in the summer of 2011, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the club's First Team Coach. 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 with Kelly remaining as Forest's assistant manager.[6]

He was placed 'temporarily in charge of first team affairs' during the pre season of the 2012/13 campaign after the sacking of Steve Cotterill by the club's new owners.[6] Following the subsequent appointment of Sean O'Driscoll,[7] Kelly again reverted to the role of assistant manager.

He remained assistant manager when O'Driscoll was in turn sacked in December 2012 and replaced by Alex McLeish, only to find himself as caretaker manager yet again just six weeks later when McLeish resigned. Billy Davies was announced as the club's new manager on 7 February, though it was also announced that Kelly would remain in his role at the club.

West Brom

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During the summer of 2014, Alan Irvine was appointed the manager of West Brom, again hiring Kelly as his assistant manager. On 29 December 2014, Kelly took over the team alongside coaches Keith Downing and Dean Kiely after Irvine's dismissal.[8] on 1 January 2015, they drew 1–1 away at West Ham United.[9] and then recorded a 7–0 victory against Gateshead in the FA Cup on 3 January 2015, following the appointment of Tony Pulis as Head Coach.

On 5 January, Kelly, Kiely and Downing all departed the club, with Pulis wanting to reshape his own backroom team.[10]

Return to assistant

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On 3 June 2015, he was appointed as Assistant Head Coach to Uwe Rosler at Leeds United.[11] In December 2015, Kelly agreed to become first team coach and link up again with Alan Irvine alongside Paul Lambert at Blackburn Rovers. After they successfully guided the club to Championship safety, all three coaches left Rovers in the summer of 2016 before the start of the following season.

Kelly once again joined up with Rösler at Fleetwood Town in 2016 and left in the summer of 2018. Kelly was appointed assistant manager to Ryan Lowe at Football League Two side Bury on 10 July 2018, as the club targeted an immediate return to League One.[12]

On 1 January 2019 Kelly was announced as assistant coach to Rösler at Sweden's Malmö FF. On 7 February 2020 he followed Rösler to Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Barrow

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On 4 September 2020 Kelly was appointed as assistant manager to David Dunn at League Two side Barrow.[13] Following the sacking of Dunn on 13 December, he was appointed as caretaker manager,[14] leading the club to victories over Cheltenham Town and Port Vale.[15] With the appointment of new manager Michael Jolley, he returned to his role as assistant manager for Barrow's game with Tranmere Rovers on 29 December.[16]

On 21 February 2021, Barrow parted company with Jolley and Kelly was once again named as caretaker manager, this time until the end of the season.[17] During his second stint as caretaker manager, he presided over an upturn of form and on 27 April, with two matches remaining, Barrow secured their Football League status for the following season with a 2–0 win at Forest Green Rovers.[18] He turned down the job on a permanent basis[19] and on 26 May he left the club.[20]

Wigan Athletic

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On 25 June 2021, Kelly joined Wigan Athletic as assistant manager.[21]

Return to Preston North End

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On 18 July 2023, Kelly joined Preston North End as a first team coach, returning to the club and reuniting with manager Ryan Lowe, who he worked with previously at Bury.[22]

References

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  1. ^ Dunk, Peter, ed. (1987). Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88. London: Queen Anne Press. p. 400. ISBN 978-0-356-14354-5.
  2. ^ "Ex-Foxes boss joins Preston team". BBC Sport. 25 May 2007.
  3. ^ "Struggling Preston sack Simpson". 13 November 2007 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  4. ^ PA (3 February 2011). "Sheffield Wednesday sack manager Alan Irvine". The Independent. London. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
  5. ^ "Owls duo depart". Sheffield Wednesday F.C. 9 February 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2011.
  6. ^ a b "Nottingham Forest | News | Latest News | Latest News | Club Update". Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 12 July 2012.
  7. ^ "Sean O'Driscoll appointed new Nottingham Forest manager". BBC Sport. BBC. 19 July 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2012.
  8. ^ "Alan Irvine: West Brom sack manager after Stoke defeat". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 December 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  9. ^ Liew, Jonathan (1 January 2015). "West Ham 1 West Bromwich Albion 1, match report: Saido Berahino equalises as Tony Pulis watches from the stands". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  10. ^ "West Brom: Rob Kelly, Keith Downing and Dean Kiely depart". BBC Sport. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  11. ^ "Rob Kelly joins Leeds United as assistant head coach". BBC Sport. 3 June 2015. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
  12. ^ "Ryan Lowe appoints Rob Kelly as his Assistant Manager". Bury F.C. 10 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2018.
  13. ^ "Rob Kelly Appointed As Assistant Manager". www.barrowafc.com.
  14. ^ "Club Statement: David Dunn". www.barrowafc.com.
  15. ^ "Port Vale vs Barrow on 26 Dec 20 - Match Centre - Barrow Association Football Club". www.barrowafc.com.
  16. ^ "David Dunn: League Two Barrow part company with manager". Sky Sports.
  17. ^ "Club Statement: Michael Jolley". www.barrowafc.com.
  18. ^ "Forest Green Rovers 0–2 Barrow". BBC Sport. 27 April 2021. Retrieved 27 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Club Statement: Rob Kelly". www.barrowafc.com. Retrieved 16 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Rob Kelly Makes Barrow Departure". www.barrowafc.com. 26 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Latics confirm new additions to back room staff". Wigan Athletic F.C. 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Rob Kelly Returns To Deepdale As First Team Coach". Preston North End.
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