Kenny Cunningham

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.

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[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)
National team
1994 Republic of Ireland B 1 (0)
1996–2005 Republic of Ireland 72 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

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]

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.[1] In February 2000, Cunningham was involved in an incident with Chelsea captain Dennis Wise following their match. The Football Association charged Wise with misconduct for the alleged confrontation in the tunnel and fined him £7,500.[11]

Birmingham City

Cunningham moved to Birmingham City, newly promoted to the Premier League, in 2002 for a £600,000 fee.[12] 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][13] He formed a fine defensive partnership with Matthew Upson, who joined in the January transfer window,[14] and at the end of that campaign, his teammates chose him as their Player of the Season.[15]

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".[16] Nicknamed "King Kenny" by the fans,[17] Cunningham had a reputation as an organised solid defender,[18][19] 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".[20]

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".[21] While fans were in the main supportive of Cunningham's views,[22] the club reacted furiously,[23] 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".[24]

Sunderland

Cunningham signed for Sunderland on 19 July 2006 with Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn praising his leadership qualities.[25] 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.[26] He was released at the end of the season,[27] and retired as a player.[28]

International career

Cunningham won a total of 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team. 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.[29] 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.[30]

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.[31]

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".[32]

After football

Cunningham has worked as a pundit for 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.[33] 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.[34] He covered tournaments including the 2013 Confederations Cup, 2014 World Cup,[35] and Euro 2016.[36]

Honours

Sunderland

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
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Millwall 1989–90 First Division 5000000050
1990–91 Second Division 230001000240
1991–92 Second Division 170100000180
1992–93 First Division 37000402[lower-alpha 1]1431
1993–94 First Division 39100304[lower-alpha 2]0461
1994–95 First Division 150—20—170
Total 136110100611532
Wimbledon 1994–95 Premier League 28040——320
1995–96 Premier League 330802000430
1996–97 Premier League 3607070—500
1997–98 Premier League 3203030—380
1998–99 Premier League 3502070—440
1999–2000 Premier League 3702040—430
2000–01 First Division 1505000—200
2001–02 First Division 3402000—360
Total 2500330230003060
Birmingham City 2002–03 Premier League 3100010—320
2003–04 Premier League 3604010—410
2004–05 Premier League 3601010—380
2005–06 Premier League 3102000—330
Total 13407030—1440
Sunderland 2006–07 Championship 1100010—120
Career total 5311410370616152
  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. "Blues close the gap". BBC Sport. 12 February 2000. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  12. Jawad, Hyder (17 July 2002). "Blues' swoop just what surprised Cunningham was wanting". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 14 May 2012 – via NewsBank.
  13. "Arsenal ease past Birmingham". BBC Sport. 18 August 2002. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  14. Tattum, Colin (31 December 2009). "Colin Tattum picks his Birmingham City team of the decade". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  15. "Sav honoured with top award". Birmingham City F.C. 9 May 2003. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  16. Ellis, Ralph (28 September 2003). "Bruce's boys mean business". Sunday Mirror. London. Retrieved 14 May 2012 – via NewsBank.
  17. "Player of the Decade". Joys and Sorrows. 19 May 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  18. 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.
  19. Jawad, Hyder (1 March 2003). "Blues building for long-term Premiership future". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 15 May 2012 – via NewsBank.
  20. McLaughlan, Lee (2 November 2003). "Cunningham's Top Man For Veteran Irwin". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 14 May 2012 – via NewsBank.
  21. Clarkson, Ian (11 May 2006). "The real failings at Blues". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 3 December 2011. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  22. "True Bluenoses stand right behind Cunningham and his criticisms". Birmingham Post. 12 May 2006. Retrieved 18 July 2010 – via The Free Library.
  23. Dick, Brian (12 May 2006). "Incensed Blues hit back". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 18 July 2010 – via The Free Library.
  24. Hill, Graham (14 May 2006). "You are a wimp and a coward". Sunday Mercury. Birmingham. Retrieved 18 July 2010 – via NewsBank.
  25. "Cunningham signs Sunderland deal". BBC Sport. 19 July 2006. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  26. Mellor, Jason (23 October 2006). "Keane needs a captain". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  27. "Keane lets Cunningham & Miller go". BBC Sport. 18 May 2007. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  28. 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.
  29. "Connolly and Cunningham return". RTÉ. 23 March 2001. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  30. "Cunningham is new Republic skipper". BBC Sport. 4 September 2002. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  31. "Kerr sees bright future, Kenny quits". RTÉ. 13 October 2005. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  32. "Cunningham wary on eligibility change". RTÉ. 8 June 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
  33. 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.
  34. "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.
  35. Russell, Adrian (5 June 2014). "Move over Dunphy... RTÉ adds new faces to World Cup coverage". The42.ie. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  36. "RTÉ Sport unveils Euro 2016 coverage". RTÉ Sport. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2016.
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