Brian Kerr
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- This article is about the Irish football manager. For the Scottish footballer, see Brian Kerr (footballer).
Brian Kerr, (born in Dublin, 5 March 1953) is an Irish football manager, most noted for managing the Republic of Ireland national side
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[edit] Early days
Kerr grew up in Drimnagh, a suburb in south west Dublin. He began playing football for noted schoolboy side Crumlin United along with future world champion athlete Eamonn Coghlan. He also boxed with Drimnagh Boxing Club as his father was a coach there. Kerr realised he did not possess enough talent to make it to the top as a footballer and at an early age decided to concentrate on coaching. At age 18, Kerr took his first coaching role when appointed to the Crumlin United under 13 side. He quickly set about gaining all relevant coaching badges and soon caught eye of Irish footballing legend Liam Touhy. Touhy appointed Kerr as his assistant in roles with Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda United and the Irish Youth side which reached the World Cup finals in 1985.
[edit] St. Patrick's Athletic
In December 1986 Kerr was appointed manager of League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic. Kerr told reporters that as a fan of St. Pats, this appointment was a "dream come true". Within 3 weeks Kerr had won his first senior trophy as St Pats won the Leinster Senior Cup. It was the Inchicore's side first trophy in a decade. Traditionally one of Ireland's poorer clubs Kerr immediately set about rebuilding the squad on a shoe string budget. He acquired several players from junior and schoolboy football (such as future international Curtis Fleming) and rescued others from reserve leagues, such as current St. Pats manager John McDonnell. St. Pats drew 1-1 with Dundalk F.C. in the last game of the 1987/88 season when a win would have seen St. Pats gain their first league title since 1956. In 1990, Kerr led St. Pats to that long cherished league championship.
As financial troubles hit St. Pats, Kerr was forced to off load his star players and all bar John Treacy left by 1993. In 1992 with the club facing liquidation, Kerr was among a group of investors (many of whom re-mortgaged their houses) who raised IR£82,000 which helped save the club from extinction. Once again Kerr was left the job of rebuilding a totally new squad and once again he showed he was more than capable as St. Pats won the league again 1996. In December 1996 he shocked St. Pats by quitting becoming technical director of the Football Association of Ireland. Kerr is still idolised by fans of St Patrick's Athletic and most commentators attribute the further success the club have had largely down to work started by Kerr.
[edit] Republic of Ireland Underage sides
As part of his technical director remit, Kerr was manager of republic of Ireland sides from U16 to u20 level. His first major tournament was the 1997 World Youth Championships . Kerr surprised many commentators by bringing 3 players from the League of Ireland but was proved correct when Republic of Ireland won bronze medals by finishing third. The undoubted star of the Irish team was Damien Duff.
The following year Kerr guided Republic of Ireland to an unprecedented double by winning both the Under 16 and Under 18 European Championships. No Irish team had ever won a major trophy before (and none have won since). A number of the players involved would go on to win full international caps, such as John O'Shea and Robbie Keane. In 1999 Republic of Ireland were knocked out of the World Youth Championships by hosts Nigeria on penalties in the quarter final. He again qualified Ireland for the 2003 World Youth Championships before taking up position of manager of the senior national side
[edit] Republic of Ireland Senior Side
After two defeats in the opening two qualifying games for Euro 2004, the FAI sacked manager Mick McCarthy. In February 2003, Kerr was appointed and was welcomed by most sections of the media and fans alike. He was however left a huge challenge to achieve qualification and following a draw at home to Russia and a defeat in Switzerland Republic of Ireland finished 3rd and missed out.
In qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Kerr managed Ireland to only one defeat, however late goals conceded to Israel at home and away saw Republic of Ireland finish in 4th place in a very tight group and again miss out. Kerr came in for heavy criticism from sections of the media who saw his tactics as negative. Other commentators pointed to the lack of talent in the squad as being the most important factor, pointing to Kerr's previous managerial record.
In October 2005 Kerr's contract was not renewed by the FAI.In 2006 he became a director of Sport against Racism Ireland (SARI).
[edit] External links
- Kerr Profile from rte.ie
| Preceded by: Jimmy Jackson |
St Patrick's Athletic manager 1986-1996 |
Succeeded by: Pat Dolan |
| Preceded by: Mick McCarthy |
Republic of Ireland national team manager 2003–2005 |
Succeeded by: Steve Staunton |
