Kenny Cunningham

This article is about the Irish footballer. For the Costa Rican footballer, see Kenny Cunningham (footballer, born 1985).

Kenny Cunningham

Warming up for Birmingham, April 2005
Personal information
Full name	Kenneth Edward Cunningham [1]
Date of birth	(1971-06-28) 28 June 1971 (age 52) [1]
Place of birth	Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) [2]
Position(s)	Defender
Youth career
–	Home Farm
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1988–1989	Tolka Rovers
1989–1994	Millwall	136	(1)
1994–2002	Wimbledon	250	(0)
2002–2006	Birmingham City	134	(0)
2006–2007	Sunderland	11	(0)
Total		531	(1)
International career
1994	Republic of Ireland B	1	(0)
1996–2005	Republic of Ireland	72	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kenneth Edward Cunningham (born 28 June 1971) is an Irish former footballer who played as a defender. He played international football for the Republic of Ireland until his retirement in 2005. He spent his professional club career, from 1989 to 2007, in England, making more than 500 appearances in the Football League and Premier League playing for Millwall, Wimbledon, Birmingham City and Sunderland.

After retirement as a professional player, he worked as a pundit for RTÉ Sport, and successfully completed the UEFA Pro Licence coaching qualification in 2011. ^[3]

Early life and career

Cunningham was born in Dublin. He attended St. Vincent's C.B.S. primary and secondary school in the Glasnevin district. At school, he played more Gaelic football than soccer: he played for St Vincent's at Croke Park alongside future Gaelic star Dessie Farrell in a schools' final, and played for Na Fianna and the Dublin minor team. ^{[4] [5] [6]} At association football, he played for the Home Farm club from under-9s to under-17s, before moving on to amateur club Tolka Rovers. ^[7]

Millwall

On 18 September 1989, the 18-year-old Cunningham signed a one-year contract with Millwall of the English First Division. His expectations, to play out the season in England and use the experience to earn himself a good contract back in Ireland, changed when, three months before the end of that "trial" season, Millwall offered him a further two-year contract. ^[8] He made his Football League debut on 17 March 1990, at right back in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw away to Norwich City, and started four more first-team games during that season. ^{[9] [10]} In five years with the club, he made 136 league appearances. ^[1] scoring his only career goal at Portsmouth in April 1994.

Wimbledon

Cunningham and teammate Jon Goodman moved to Wimbledon in November 1994, for the joint fee of £1,300,000. ^[9] Cunningham played 250 league games for Wimbledon and twice named as the London side's Player of the Season. ^{[1] [11]} In February 2000, Cunningham was involved in an incident with Chelsea captain Dennis Wise following their match. Cunningham admitted improper behaviour in response to severe provocation from Wise and was fined £5,000 by The Football Association. Wise was charged with misconduct for the alleged confrontation in the tunnel and fined £7,500 and Chelsea and Wimbledon were both fined £50,000 each for failing to control their players. ^{[12] [13]}

Birmingham City

Cunningham moved to Birmingham City, newly promoted to the Premier League, in 2002 for a £600,000 fee. ^[14] He went straight into the starting eleven, playing at centre back in place of injured captain Steve Vickers rather than his customary right back. ^{[7] [15]} He formed a fine defensive partnership with Matthew Upson, who joined in the January transfer window, ^[16] and at the end of that campaign, his teammates chose him as their Player of the Season. ^[17]

After the first few matches of 2003–04, Birmingham's manager Steve Bruce was describing Cunningham as "on current form ... the best defender in the Premiership". ^[18] Nicknamed "King Kenny" by the fans, ^[19] Cunningham had a reputation as an organised solid defender, ^{[20] [21]} and Manchester United and Ireland full-back Denis Irwin suggested in November 2003 that, though his ability had been under-rated in the past, "this year ... people are realising how good he actually is". ^[22]

After the club's relegation at the end of the 2005–06 Premier League season, Cunningham and seven other first team players were released. On 11 May 2006, Cunningham launched a scathing attack in the press on Bruce and the board, blaming the club's relegation on a lack of preparation throughout the season and likening the club to a "stiff corpse" that has "no heartbeat and, more worryingly, no soul". ^[23] While fans were in the main supportive of Cunningham's views, ^[24] the club reacted furiously, ^[25] and chairman David Gold wondered "if Kenny would have said the same things if we'd stayed up, Portsmouth had gone down and he'd been given a lucrative new contract". ^[26]

Sunderland

Cunningham signed for Sunderland on 19 July 2006 with Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn praising his leadership qualities. ^[27] He made 11 appearances for the Black Cats as they won the Championship, but no more appearances after October when he was made captain by manager Roy Keane before sustaining an injury. ^[28] He was released at the end of the season, ^[29] and retired as a player. ^[30]

International career

Cunningham won a total of 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team. He made his debut on 24 April 1996 in 2–0 friendly loss to the Czech Republic in Prague. ^[31]

He was named as FAI Senior International Player of the Year in 1998. ^[32]

In March 2001, he returned after a long layoff due to injury, replacing Richard Dunne to partner Gary Breen in defence for a match against Cyprus. ^[33] Cunningham was named team captain after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. According to manager Mick McCarthy: "Kenny's qualities as a player are easy to see. From day one he has been a great influence. He is a talker on the pitch, he organises the players around him, and off the pitch he is a calm influence. ^[34]

He retired from international football after achieving 72 caps at the age of 34 on 12 October 2005, following Ireland's draw with Switzerland at Lansdowne Road, which resulted in his team's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. ^[35]

Cunningham urged caution following a FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch their international allegiance. Commenting in relation to Ireland's qualifying campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he said: "It wouldn't be something I'd be hugely in favour of" and "I'd be very disappointed if I was a player in that squad to miss out on the World Cup for somebody who was jumping on board at the last minute". ^[36]

After football

Cunningham has worked as a pundit on the Premier League and Champions League for both Setanta Ireland and Premier Sports, on RTÉ Sport's coverage of the League of Ireland and for Sky Sports's coverage of Ireland matches. He coached at English non-league club Nuneaton Town, who won promotion in his first year there. ^[37] before completing his UEFA Pro Licence in Ireland. He was appointed assistant to the League of Ireland XI manager Damien Richardson for the Dublin Super Cup tournament in 2011. ^[38] He covered tournaments including the 2013 Confederations Cup, ^[39] 2014 World Cup, ^[40] Euro 2016, ^[41] and Euro 2020. ^[42]

Honours

Sunderland

• Football League Championship: 2006–07

Individual

• FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 1998 ^[32]
• Wimbledon Player of the Season: 1999–2000, 2001–02 ^[11]

Career statistics

Club

Source: Kenny Cunningham at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			FA Cup		League Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Millwall	1989–90	First Division	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	0
	1990–91	Second Division	23	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	24	0
	1991–92	Second Division	17	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	18	0
	1992–93	First Division	37	0	0	0	4	0	2 [lower-alpha 1]	1	43	1
	1993–94	First Division	39	1	0	0	3	0	4 [lower-alpha 2]	0	46	1
	1994–95	First Division	15	0	—		2	0	—		17	0
	Total		136	1	1	0	10	0	6	1	153	2
Wimbledon	1994–95	Premier League	28	0	4	0	—		—		32	0
	1995–96	Premier League	33	0	8	0	2	0	0	0	43	0
	1996–97	Premier League	36	0	7	0	7	0	—		50	0
	1997–98	Premier League	32	0	3	0	3	0	—		38	0
	1998–99	Premier League	35	0	2	0	7	0	—		44	0
	1999–2000	Premier League	37	0	2	0	4	0	—		43	0
	2000–01	First Division	15	0	5	0	0	0	—		20	0
	2001–02	First Division	34	0	2	0	0	0	—		36	0
	Total		250	0	33	0	23	0	0	0	306	0
Birmingham City	2002–03	Premier League	31	0	0	0	1	0	—		32	0
	2003–04	Premier League	36	0	4	0	1	0	—		41	0
	2004–05	Premier League	36	0	1	0	1	0	—		38	0
	2005–06	Premier League	31	0	2	0	0	0	—		33	0
	Total		134	0	7	0	3	0	—		144	0
Sunderland	2006–07	Championship	11	0	0	0	1	0	—		12	0
Career total			531	1	41	0	37	0	6	1	615	2

1. Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
2. Two appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup, two in First Division play-offs

References

1. "Kenny Cunningham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
2. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2003). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004. Queen Anne Press. p. 102. ISBN   1-85291-651-6.
3. Maher, Gareth (27 September 2013). "Gill: I worked hard and got licence to nil – UEFA qualification no guarantee". Daily Mirror. Ireland. Archived from the original on 29 September 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2014– via GarethMaher.com.
4. Faller, Gráinne (13 May 2008). "Schools soccer strikes back". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 17 July 2010– via FAI Schools.
5. Doyle, Garry (21 April 2005). "Football: Croke Park? No problem! I've won there before.. as a left corner-forward". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 14 May 2012– via NewsBank.
6. "Dessie Farrell: the making of a Dublin manager". The42.ie. 19 December 2020. What took you by surprise was the sight of the other fella, the third player from the left in the back row: Kenny Cunningham, Ireland soccer captain 2003-05, a Dublin minor alongside Farrell in 1989, his teammate, classmate, friend.
7. Quinn, Philip (5 September 2002). "Captain Cunningham". Irish Independent. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
8. O'Brien, John (23 March 2003). "Cunningham rises to task". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 14 May 2012– via NewsBank.
9. "Kenny Cunningham". The Millwall History Files. Gary Miles. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
10. "Statistics 1989/90". The Millwall History Files. Gary Miles. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
11. "BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP | Squad | Kenny Cunningham". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
12. "Blues close the gap". BBC Sport. 12 February 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
13. Thorpe, Martin (11 May 2000). "Dons fined £50,000 for brawl". The Guardian . Retrieved 29 August 2021.
14. Jawad, Hyder (17 July 2002). "Blues' swoop just what surprised Cunningham was wanting". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 14 May 2012– via NewsBank.
15. "Arsenal ease past Birmingham". BBC Sport. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
16. Tattum, Colin (31 December 2009). "Colin Tattum picks his Birmingham City team of the decade". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
17. "Sav honoured with top award". Birmingham City F.C. 9 May 2003. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
18. Ellis, Ralph (28 September 2003). "Bruce's boys mean business". Sunday Mirror. London. Retrieved 14 May 2012– via NewsBank.
19. "Player of the Decade". Joys and Sorrows. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
20. George, Bill (4 September 1999). "Breen and Cunningham look like becoming durable duo". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
21. Jawad, Hyder (1 March 2003). "Blues building for long-term Premiership future". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 15 May 2012– via NewsBank.
22. McLaughlan, Lee (2 November 2003). "Cunningham's Top Man For Veteran Irwin". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 14 May 2012– via NewsBank.
23. Clarkson, Ian (11 May 2006). "The real failings at Blues". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
24. "True Bluenoses stand right behind Cunningham and his criticisms". Birmingham Post. 12 May 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2010– via The Free Library.
25. Dick, Brian (12 May 2006). "Incensed Blues hit back". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 18 July 2010– via The Free Library.
26. Hill, Graham (14 May 2006). "You are a wimp and a coward". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 18 July 2010– via NewsBank.
27. "Cunningham signs Sunderland deal". BBC Sport. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
28. Mellor, Jason (23 October 2006). "Keane needs a captain". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
29. "Keane lets Cunningham & Miller go". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
30. Alexander, Nick (21 September 2007). "What a difference a year makes!". Sunderland A.F.C. Archived from the original on 9 June 2009. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
31. Kelly, Liam (13 October 2005). "Captain Cunningham takes his bow from international stage". independent. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
32. Quinn, Philip (12 October 1998). "Cunningham Player of the Year". independent. Retrieved 14 May 2022.
33. "Connolly and Cunningham return". RTÉ. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
34. "Cunningham is new Republic skipper". BBC Sport. 4 September 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
35. "Kerr sees bright future, Kenny quits". RTÉ. 13 October 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
36. "Cunningham wary on eligibility change". RTÉ. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
37. Hicks, Danielle (15 June 2010). "Rob Foster wishes Nuneaton the best". Coventry Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
38. "Kenny Cunningham appointed Airtricity League XI assistant manager for Dublin Super Cup". Airtricity League. 5 July 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
39. Blake, Ben (21 June 2013). "Kenny Cunningham laid into Tahiti after the 10-0 defeat to Spain". The42 . Retrieved 3 July 2021.
40. Russell, Adrian (5 June 2014). "Move over Dunphy... RTÉ adds new faces to World Cup coverage". The42.ie. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
41. "RTÉ Sport unveils Euro 2016 coverage". RTÉ Sport. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
42. "RTÉ announces details of UEFA EURO 2020 coverage – live and exclusive". about.rte.ie. 10 June 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2021.

External links

• Kenny Cunningham at Soccerbase