Kevin was on A Question of Sport on BBC One today (ser. 41 / ep. 30) and because I knew before broadcasting I could watch. It was nice to see him again in action and in moving pictures obviously I would have prefered that on the football pitch.
As it was a show on testing your knowledge about sport Kevin had to be smart and he was. His team made the last eight points to win 22-20 in the end and the most correct answers came from him (as I am very biased to say so).
During watching the show I have made these terrible looking pictures but thought they were worth it because there won’t be any on the internet I am afraid. Low quality is due to photographs made from watching on the laptop.
KEVIN Kilbane is facing an uncertain summer after being given no assurances he will remain with Hull City beyond the end of his contract next month.
The 35-year-old was promoted to Nick Barmby’s backroom team in February as a development coach and won plaudits as he oversaw the Tigers’ reserve side for their final eight games of the season. An extension to that deal was due to be discussed this month, but the sacking of Barmby last week has left Kilbane’s City future ominously in limbo.
Although the former Republic of Ireland stalwart spent the closing months of the campaign in a coaching role at the KC Stadium, he remained on his original playing contract. That deal is due expire on June 30 and, with the identity of Barmby’s successor still unclear, Kilbane will be forced to consider all of his options in the coming weeks.
Kilbane has made no secret of his desire to move into coaching, and eventually management, but he could put those plans on ice if offered a one-year playing deal away from East Yorkshire for next season. After a successful operation cured a back problem in December, Kilbane was back in full training by the end of the season. Six months on the sidelines may temper interest in his services, but the hugely experienced veteran is not ruling out another year as a player. Kilbane will first await news of Barmby’s successor to learn if he will be retained by the Tigers in a coaching role before embarking on a busy summer.
As well as spending most of next month at Euro 2012 as an expert summariser for BBC Radio Five Live’s Republic of Ireland coverage, Kilbane also hopes to complete the final stage of his UEFA A coaching licence ahead of the new season. A first step into coaching with the Tigers’ reserve ranks during late winter has whetted his appetite for more and he had looked on course for an extended spell under Barmby.
Should Kilbane’s future lie away from the KC Stadium, as seems increasingly likely, it would end a three-and-a-half year association with the Tigers. Signed from Wigan for £500,000 in January 2009, he has made 55 appearances for City, as well as spending time out on loan at Huddersfield Town and Derby County. Kilbane has not featured for City since a 3-2 win at Sheffield United on Boxing Day 2010 but he will always command the respect of supporters after agreeing to spread a lucrative one-year deal over two years, a gesture that aided the Tigers at the height of their financial problems following relegation from the Premier League.
source: This is Hull and East Riding
Some pictures from Kevin made on Friday, 11 May 2012 at Carton House Hotel near Maynooth, Co. Kildare after a couple of media interviews.
source: David Maher / Sportsfile
Some pictures from Kevin made on Friday, 11 May 2012 at Carton House Hotel near Maynooth, Co. Kildare after a couple of media interviews.
source: James Crombie / Inpho
KEVIN KILBANE sees himself as a future Ireland manager.
‘Killer’ won 110 caps, but will miss out on playing at Euro 2012. He is out of contract at Hull City this summer and admitted that his playing days could be over. Kilbane is already working on his coaching badges having managed Hull’s reserves for the last six months.
He said: “I’d love to manage. I think since I’ve been managing the reserve team — and I know it’s a lower level of football — it has given me a taste for coaching and management. I don’t think you can say ‘yes’ to anything without trying it and I’ve tried it and really enjoyed it. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I do. I’d love to be Ireland manager. That would be the ultimate for me. Of any international manager’s job, this would be the ultimate.”
Kilbane, 35, knew his Ireland career was over when he walked out of the team hotel last August. He will be in Poland as a radio analyst for BBC 5 Live having long ago accepted he was not going to be part of Giovanni Trapattoni’s squad. Kilbane realised his time was up when a back injury forced him to withdraw from the squad just days before the game against Slovakia. And even though he played in six of the 12 qualifiers, he did not feel part of the squad when they saw off Estonia in the play-offs.
Kilbane said: “I felt myself I was ruled out when I left the squad in September. I didn’t think I would play any further part in the campaign after that. I was quite upset when I left that time. I was really down. I was there after the Estonia game but it didn’t feel right coming in. I don’t know if it was a mental thing but I didn’t feel part of it. I have been around it for such a long time and they are such good friends who were celebrating that night, but no, it didn’t feel right coming in. I had a few beers that night but no, I think it had gone by that stage. I kept it to myself. I was a bit down on the flight back to England. It’s the end of an era for me. But I had a great, wonderful international career and I couldn’t have asked for more. It’s tinged with disappointment of course.”
Kilbane has no complaints with how the end came from Trap, highlighting that the Italian treats all his players the same way. He believes he would have been available for selection if a back injury had not ruled him out for eight months. Kilbane has urged the likes of Shay Given, Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and Damien Duff not to quit after this tournament.
He said: “I’ve not heard any murmurs out of them that they are going to retire. I don’t think they should because they can all play a key role in qualification for the World Cup.”
KEVIN KILBANE was speaking at the Carton House interview series at the hotel, sports complex and training centre near Maynooth.
source: Owen Cowzer / Irish Sun
Kevin Kilbane is eyeing a sensational return to the international set-up… as manager of the Irish team.
Giovanni Trapattoni shouldn’t be quaking in his boots like the many right backs that had to face old Zinedine over the years just yet, however, because for now, becoming the Ireland boss is only a pipe dream for a man who was capped 110 times for his country.
“I’d love to be Ireland manager. That would be the ultimate for me. Of any international manager’s job, this would be the ultimate,” Kilbane is quoted as saying in The Daily Star.
The 35-year old was rather unsentimentally shifted out of the Ireland set-up during the qualifying campaign for the Euros and although he has not yet officially called time on his playing career, his thoughts are already moving to a career in the dugout. Kilbane very nearly became manager of Sligo Rovers earlier this year, but his lack of a Pro License ruled him out of the running. He has been gaining some experience with the Hull reserves, however, and admits that he has been firmly bitten by the managerial bug.
“I’d love to manage,” Kilbane added. “I think since I’ve been managing the reserve team – and I know it’s a lower level of football – it has given me a taste for coaching and management. I don’t think you can say yes to anything without trying it and I’ve tried it and I’ve really enjoyed it. I didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I do. I’d love to be a manager – yeah. But whether or not that materialises I don’t know.”
Considering that there is an age gap of 38 years between Kilbane and the current Irish manager, time is certainly on his side and given his legendary status amongst Irish football followers, the prospect of Kilbane taking charge of the Boys in Green doesn’t seem so far-fetched after all. Then again, Stan is a legend amongst Irish fans as well and that didn’t quite work out now did it?
source: JOE
Kevin Kilbane talks to RTÉ Sport for his prediction on the Premier League outcome this weekend. Here is Kevin’s prediction:
1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Arsenal
4. Tottenham
.
.
.
17. QPR
18. Bolton
.
.
source: RTÉ Sport
Oh, I wish I could go there…
The Newstalk Sport Saturday Roadshow is coming to the Mercantile Bar on Dame Street in Dublin this Saturday from 2pm to 4pm. Don’t miss your chance to hear the opinions of ex-Republic of Ireland internationals Kevin Kilbane, Jason McAteer and Steven Reid, along with Newtalk’s European football correspondent Graham Hunter.
Ger Gilroy will get things under way at 2 o’clock. To make sure you’re there, text “Ireland” to 53106 for a free ticket. You won’t get in without one!
Each ticket admits two people | Doors open at 1.30pm | Refreshments will be served on the day | Over 18s only | ID required.
source: Newstalk
Braving torrential rain and winds of 40 miles per hour, 148 DSActive players representing 13 DSActive teams came together at The Albion Foundation in West Bromwich on Sunday, 29th April. The festival was made possible thanks to a donation of £10,250 from the Premier League and Football Aid benefitting the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA). DSA Patron and professional footballer Kevin Kilbane added his full support by leading the warm-up and cheering from the touch line whilst the games were underway.
Conor McNamara and Kevin Kilbane follow the Republic of Ireland squad in Gdansk. McNamara will also be part of the commentary team, Kilbane join the team of co-commentators.
source: broadcasting.vitalfootball.co.uk