A brummie midfielder whose parentage qualified him to play for Ireland as he played at youth level for this nation. Rob clearly possessed useful ball skills, but occasionally appeared less well equipped for the robust physical challenge of top-class football.
A loan spell with Bryan Hamilton’s Tranmere (two goals in five games) seemed to signal willingness to jettison him after only one first team run-out, but Rob was in Gordon Milne’s line-up at the start of the 1985/86 season.
He was also a squad member under Bryan Hamilton the following season. Distinguishing himself with a neatly chipped goal against Manchester United. Wtih his Filbert Street development atsomething ofa standstill, though, the club accepted Wolves’ £30.000 bid for Rob. He helped steer his new club in the 1987 Third/Fourth Division Play-offs, but then sustained a serious back injury which kept him out of Wolves’ successful promotion sides of the following two years.
His early injury challenges did see his retirement from playing the age of only 24. He decided to into coaching starting to run Wolves’ School of Excellence. He has since been successful and up to today been coaching at several levels both home and abroad.
Rob Kelly returned to Leicester in 2005 to be the assistant manager under Craig Levein. After the sacking of Levein, following 18 months in charge, Kelly stepped up from his assistant manager role to take control on a caretaker basis. In his first ten games in charge he gained 21 points from a possible 30, steering the side up the Championship table and away from the threat of relegation to League One. He was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2006. This followed wins over relegation rivals Hull City and Millwall, as well as victory against Luton Town and a creditable draw against Premiership-bound Reading. In recognition of his achievements, on 14 April 2006 he signed a one-year rolling contract, confirming his status as manager. On 11 April 2007 Kelly was sacked due to a poor run of results, his final game being a 3–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle. He was replaced by Nigel Worthington until the end of the season.
He has since been around and worked mostly as a coach or assistant manager at Preston North End, Rotherham, Barrow, Wigan, Nottingham Forest, West Bromwich, Malmo FF, Fortuna Dusseldorf and AGF Aarhus among the number of club he has been at.
FACTFILE:
- Full Name: Robert Anthony Kelly
- Position: Midfielder
- Date of Birth: 21.12.1964
- Birthplace: Birmingham
- Nation: Ireland
- Caps / Goals: 21 / 1
- Major League Career:
- 1984-86, Leicester City (24/1)
- 1986-89, Wolves (16/2)
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