Background
Both his father, Alan Kelly, Senior, who also represented Ireland, and older brother, Gary Kelly, played as goalkeepers.
Both his father, Alan Kelly, Senior, who also represented Ireland, and older brother, Gary Kelly, played as goalkeepers.
Born in Preston, Kelly represented the Republic of Ireland internationally, winning 34 caps for his country. Kelly started his career at Preston North End in the Fourth Division, following the footsteps of his father, Alan Kelly, Senior, and played 142 League games for the team He joined Sheffield United in July 1992 for £150,000.
Kelly stayed with Sheffield United until 1999, despite their relegation from the Premiership shortly into his career with them.
In total, he made 213 appearances for the Blades. In 1999, Kelly transferred to, making 39 appearances, and stayed there until his retirement from football in 2004.
This time also included loan spells at Stockport County and Birmingham City. He made more than 470 appearances in all competitions at club level
He was the team"s second-choice goalkeeper on both occasions, and never played in a World Cup game.
In the summer of 2006, Kelly was goalkeeping coach for the Soccer-Academy camps, located in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and Pennsylvania in the United States. He is currently the goalkeeping coach of the Republic of Ireland national football team and at Preston North End"s Centre of Excellence. After spending 18 months at Preston North End"s Centre of Excellence he became the new goalkeeping coach following the dismissal of Philosophy Brown and appointment of David Unsworth as caretaker manager.
Club Individual.