Kevin Ball

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Kevin Ball
Personal information
Full name Kevin Ball
Date of birth November 12, 1964 (1964-11-12) (age 43)
Place of birth    Hastings, England
Playing position Defender or midfielder
Club information
Current club Sunderland (youth team coach)
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1981-1982
1982-1990
1990-1999
1999-2000
2000-2002
Coventry City
Portsmouth
Sunderland
Fulham
Burnley
0 (0)
105 (4)
340 (21)
18 (0)
82 (2)   
Teams managed
2006 Sunderland (caretaker manager)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 15/10/2006.
* Appearances (Goals)

Kevin Ball (born Hastings, England, United Kingdom on 12 November 1964) is a former professional footballer and now coach. Between 6 March and 8 May 2006 Ball acted as Sunderland caretaker manager for the last ten games of the 2005-06 season following the sacking of Mick McCarthy, taking five points from these games. Although Ball expressed his interest in the manager's job on a full-time basis, incoming chairman Niall Quinn was keen for the club to appoint a 'world-class manager' following the club's takeover by the Drumaville Consortium, effectively ruling Ball out of the running. While speculation linked him with subsequent managerial vacancies at Colchester and Darlington, Ball remained at Sunderland under the new regime, returning to his former post of Assistant Academy Manager.

Ball began his career in central defence but was converted in his later career into a central midfielder. Ball is one of Sunderland's best-loved former players due to his committed style of play, playing 389 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 27 goals. He also had spells with Portsmouth and, after leaving Sunderland, Fulham and Burnley.

Ball's time at Burnley is probably best remembered for a trademark tackle on David Dunn in a derby match against Blackburn that inflamed an already-volatile crowd.

[edit] Managerial stats

Team Nat From To Record
G W L D Win %
Sunderland Flag of England March 7, 2006 May 31, 2006 10 1 7 2 10.00

[edit] External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by
Paul Bracewell
Sunderland A.F.C. captain
1992 - 1999
Succeeded by
Steve Bould
Preceded by
Mick McCarthy
Sunderland A.F.C. caretaker manager
2006
Succeeded by
Niall Quinn