West Brom coach Dean Kiely driven on by love of the game
Jan 11 2010 By Chris Lepkowski
“I’ve got about five seasons of clean sheets which is good and I like the fact that my clean sheets stack up to more games than some keepers have played.
“To my detriment people throw in my birth certificate, which I laugh off because I’ve never felt better mentally or physically.”
The contrast in Kiely’s goalkeeping upbringing, compared to that of Scott Carson, could not be different.
Carson spent his younger years being fast-tracked into Leeds United’s first-team, before securing a big money move to Liverpool.
He rarely played for the Reds, being sent out on loan three times, before finally finding a club who were willing to take him on permanently.
Kiely’s career path was different. After training as a schoolboy with Albion, he went onto Coventry CIty.
Given a choice of being back-up to Steve Ogrizovic or stepping down to pursue his career, Kiely opted for the latter, moving to York City for whom he was to make more than 200 appearances.
From there he went to Bury for three years before finally pitching up at Charlton Athletic during their Premier League adventures under Alan Curbishley. He was to make 222 appearances for the Londoners.
Portsmouth and a loan spell at Luton Town followed with Kiely finally arriving at Albion during January 2007. He is, as it happens, the club’s third current longest-serving player behind Neil Clement and Robert Koren.
He feels that it was the decision to carve out a niche in the lower leagues is one reason for his longevity.
“When we play at Scunthorpe we’re told it’s tough but I’ve been there a dozen times before with Charlton Athletic, York or Bury – whatever scenarios football throws up I’ve been there,” said Kiely.
“I can’t do anything about my age.
“When I was 19 I lacked experience so I went to York instead of staying with Coventry reserves and living with my parents, which could have been such an easy thing to do.
“I took a chance and decided to give it a go. You make your own choices but the route I’ve taken is a good one from a goalkeeper’s point of view.
“You can be a protégé and have nice things said about you but I wanted to play games at lower leagues.
“Reserve games you can coast through but in competitive football has things riding on it. You need to put yourself in that environment as quickly as possible. I would advise any young goalkeeper to do the same.”
Goalkeeping runs through his blood.
Kiely, when not checking out Daniels’ progress at Tranmere or working with Carson at the training ground or pre-match, also has a son, Chris, trying to follow in his father’s footsteps.
Yet Kiely has also been developing another side to his career.
His ability to articulate and offer analytical aspects of football has led to media work, notably in front of the cameras with Sky and behind a microphone with Radio Five Live.
He has yet to decide whether to pursue on a more full-time basis once his playing career ends.
The opportunity to continue coaching may restrict his media work but he intends to enjoy it while he can.
“I’ve done bits and I enjoy it,” he added. “Would I consider it after my career? I don’t know.
“The best advice I was given a few years ago was to dip my toe into everything and try what I could.
“I’m very fortunate to get offered more work than I can actually do. As it stands I’m of the opinion that I want to try everything. The stuff on Sky and Five Live is great. They are different formats, talk shows, pure football, technical stuff.
“I have no hard-fast plan of what I need to do. I’ve been afforded the luxury of a fantastic career so the next decision I make isn’t one of necessity.
“First and foremost I have a love for goalkeeping. If coaching was the way I went then you never know where that will lead. What will be will be.
“My contract is up at the end of this season but we will talk again this month. I’m very confident in what I bring to the football club and the people know what I can do.
“We will see how we go but I’m very confident in my abilities – I’m not expecting anything to happen, we will have discussions and see where we go.”
