Kevin Kilbane

**theworm2345** · 08/12/2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by joe_denilson

It's finally over, Killer calls it quits
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-football.html

I've got something in my eye....

A true legend of Irish football. Will throw together a tribute video in the coming days.

**OwlsFan** · 08/12/2012, 8:57 PM

"Salutes" someone genuinely proud to play for his country. What next for Killer? Too nice to be a manger although Chris Hughton is doing well.? Assistant coach perhaps?

**Paddy Garcia** · 08/12/2012, 10:45 PM

A role model and example for all.

**Carrigaline** · 08/12/2012, 11:15 PM

The Killer is an example to us all. Not an amazing player, but one that always played at 200% of his ability. Regeadless of whatever anyone else says, he will always be a legend to me.

**DannyInvincible** · 16/12/2012, 4:40 PM

Kilbane was interviewed on Friday night's 'Late Late Show' from 1:19:00: http://www.rte.ie/player/gb/show/10095669/

Spoke about being invited into an England under-18 squad early in his career. The development was announced to him by Sam Allerdyce, his club manager at the time, who was livid upon Killer telling him he had no intention of accepting the call-up as his heart was set on playing for Ireland.

**Paddy Garcia** · 18/12/2012, 3:19 PM

A huge effort was made to get him to declare for England at the time. He was always steadfast in his choice.

**Sullivinho** · 18/12/2012, 10:56 PM

Originally Posted by DannyInvincible

Spoke about being invited into an England under-18 squad early in his career. The development was announced to him by Sam Allerdyce, his club manager at the time, who was livid upon Killer telling him he had no intention of accepting the call-up as his heart was set on playing for Ireland.

Just when you think Kevin has endeared himself to the utmost degree, you find out that his unheralded exploits include pi$$ing off Sam Allardyce and you love him that little bit more. What a guy.

**theworm2345** · 27/12/2012, 3:59 AM

Originally Posted by theworm2345

A true legend of Irish football. Will throw together a tribute video in the coming days.

This is what I ended up with

**SkStu** · 27/12/2012, 1:44 PM

Love him.

**Paddy Garcia** · 27/12/2012, 6:59 PM

And a very good pundit too!

**tricky_colour** · 27/12/2012, 10:35 PM

I thought the song sounded like Thin Lizzy and it turns out it was, pretty good guess considering I'd never heard it before,
but I guess Thin Lizzy have a fairly distinctive sound. Good choice.

**Charlie Darwin** · 07/04/2013, 9:41 PM

KK's been promoted from Five Live to MOTD2. Have to say I'm impressed by him, better insight than their usual ex-pros give.

**Junior** · 08/04/2013, 9:12 AM

Dig deep boys and girls.....................

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fund...l=kevinkilbane

**Dermotron** · 20/05/2013, 2:39 PM

Trying to get off the Soccer Saturday subs bench?

Listening to Tony Cottee as a profession could alter anyone's personality

**DannyInvincible** · 26/10/2013, 12:01 PM

Interesting piece on Kilbane from TheScore.ie: http://thescore.thejournal.ie/kevin-...47307-Oct2013/

KEVIN KILBANE HAS never felt anything but Irish.

While English-born players have been representing Ireland since as far back as the 1960s when Manchester United full-back Shay Brennan, whose parents emigrated from Carlow, won the first of his 19 caps, Jack Charlton’s use of the ‘granny rule’ saw an increase in the size of our talent pool.

Kilbane may have grown up a stone’s throw away from Preston North End’s Deepdale ground but read the opening chapter of his recently-released autobiography ‘Killa’ and it will instantly become clear that his upbringing was steeped in Irish culture.

His grandparents were part of the large Irish diaspora in England and parents Patrick and Teresa (who was born in Longford) met at the Hibernian Club.

He talks of wearing his Celtic jersey for a school game as it matched the colours of St Gregory’s, playing “ferocious” Irish v English matches in the yard at lunch, his sister’s Irish dancing days and even naming a goldfish he won at fairground after Paul McGrath!

One particularly significant story during his early playing days with Preston begins with a team meeting being called by then youth team manager and boyhood idol of Kilbane’s Sam Allardyce. Big Sam reveals that one of his players has been called up to England’s U18s squad and, as Kilbane looks around the room attempting to guess which of his team-mates has been picked, it is announced that he is in fact the “lucky one”.

Kilbane describes feeling his heart sink. Unable to disappoint his manager, he eventually plucks up the courage to pay a visit to his office the next day to explain that his wish is to represent Ireland. Furious at hearing the news, Allardyce tells the teenager to “f*** off” before ordering him to leave.

The current West Ham boss later does later apologise and although he persuaded Kilbane to join up for one training session with the likes of Kevin Davies, Danny Murphy and Lee Bowyer, Allardyce does get in touch with Mick McCarthy to inform him of his player’s wish.

After being faxed an initial call-up and playing several times for the U21s, Kilbane was handed his senior international debut in 1997 and went on earn 110 caps. He is currently the country’s third most capped player behind Robbie Keane and Shay Given and incredibly appeared in 66 consecutive competitive internationals.

Now retired and working as a pundit with the BBC, Kilbane was in Dublin this week to speak at the Shared Histories — Smart Futures. So how important was his sense of Irishness?

“I can’t get away from that,” he told The Score. “It was difficult with my accent as people laughed when I played for Ireland initially.

“But it’s what I always wanted to do and I was fortunate that I got the opportunity. I will never ever underestimate the fact that I’ve been lucky enough to play for my country. And I say my country because that is the way I always felt. It is my identity.

“My close friends growing up had the same background and considered themselves Irish as well.”

The debate around national identity and professional footballers representing countries who they have tenuous links with has been given significant media coverage in recent weeks.

Adnan Januzaj has been in the news because of his quite unique circumstances regarding which nations he is eligible to represent while Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa looks set to receive a call-up to Spain despite lining out for his country of birth Brazil in friendly games.

“My big bugbear and the disagreement I have is when someone says ‘I’ll keep them waiting as I might get a call-up’,” says Kilbane. “Or if you have played at U21 level and decide to change. I don’t agree with that.

“I don’t like the rule which allows players to play friendlies or underage and change national sides. If Januzaj professes that he sees himself as being English or whatever it is, I wouldn’t have a problem if he chose them.”