Mark Kinsella facts for kids

Mark Anthony Kinsella, born on August 12, 1972, is a famous Irish football player and coach. He mostly played as a central midfielder. Today, he works as a coach at Drogheda United.

Mark started his football journey at Colchester United. He also played for other big clubs like Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa, and West Bromwich Albion. He proudly represented his country, the Republic of Ireland, 48 times. He even played in the exciting 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea!

Mark's Club Career Highlights

Mark Kinsella played for several football clubs during his career. He was known for his strong midfield play.

Playing for Colchester United

Mark joined Colchester United when he was 17 years old. He played there for seven seasons. In 1992, he helped Colchester win the FA Trophy at Wembley Stadium. Fans called him "Sheedy" after a famous player. He is still one of the club's most loved former players.

Time at Charlton Athletic

In 1996, Mark moved to Charlton Athletic. He became the team captain. In 1998, he led Charlton to a big win against Sunderland in the Division 1 Play-off Final. Mark even scored a penalty in the shootout!

After a short time in the Premier League, Charlton was relegated. But Mark helped them bounce back quickly. The team won the First Division championship in 2000. This meant they returned to the top league. Mark was a very important player for Charlton. He stayed with the club when many top players might have left.

In 2001, Mark got an injury. This allowed another talented player, Scott Parker, to take his spot. When Mark recovered, he found it hard to get his place back. So, in 2002, he moved to Aston Villa.

Playing for Aston Villa

Mark made his first appearance for Aston Villa in August 2002. He played 24 games in his first season. He started well, but then had some injuries. These injuries made it difficult for him to play regularly. He left Aston Villa in early 2004.

Joining West Bromwich Albion

In January 2004, Mark joined West Bromwich Albion. He signed a short contract. He played 18 games and helped the team get promoted to the Premier League. He scored one goal for Albion in a 3-0 win against Coventry City.

Years at Walsall

Mark then moved to Walsall in July 2004. He signed a two-year deal. After two seasons with some injuries, Mark took on a new role. He became a caretaker manager for Walsall in April 2006. He played and coached at Walsall before returning to Charlton in December 2006.

Mark's International Career

Mark Kinsella played 48 games for the Irish national team. He scored 3 goals for his country. In 2000, he was named the Irish Footballer of the Year. He even captained the team in a game against Finland.

Mark formed a great midfield team with Roy Keane during the qualifiers for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Roy Keane even said that Ireland's good performance was thanks to Mark's presence. When Roy Keane left the squad before the World Cup, Mark played well with Matt Holland.

Mark's Coaching and Managerial Roles

After his playing career, Mark Kinsella moved into coaching and managing.

Early Coaching Roles

While still playing at Walsall, Mark also coached the reserve team. In December 2006, he became a development coach at Charlton Athletic. He helped young players grow and managed the reserve team. He later became the full-time reserve team manager.

In November 2008, Mark took on a more senior role. He helped the first team as a caretaker coach. He then became the first-team coach permanently. However, he left Charlton in January 2011.

Managing Daventry Town

In June 2011, Mark became the manager of Daventry Town. He stayed with the club until July 2012. After leaving Daventry, he joined the coaching staff at Histon.

Return to Colchester United

Mark was appointed assistant manager at Colchester United in September 2012. He worked alongside Joe Dunne. However, he was sacked from this role in September 2014.

Coaching at Drogheda United

In November 2014, Mark became the assistant manager of League of Ireland side Drogheda United. He later became the manager of Drogheda United. In November 2015, he stepped back into a coaching role.

Working with Ireland's Youth Teams

In April 2016, the Football Association of Ireland announced that Mark would help coach some of the Republic of Ireland's youth players. Later, in August 2018, he took on a specific role with the under-21s team.

Mark's Family Life

Mark Kinsella is a father to two talented children. His son, Liam Kinsella, is also a football player. His daughter, Alice Kinsella, is a gymnast. She even won a bronze medal at the 2020 Olympic Games!

Honours and Awards

Mark Kinsella achieved many great things in his career.

Colchester United

• Football Conference: 1991–92
• FA Trophy: 1991–92

Charlton Athletic

• Football League First Division: 1999–2000

Individual Awards

• FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 2000
• PFA Team of the Year: 1995–96 Third Division, 1999–2000 First Division
• Colchester United F.C. Player of the Year: 1993–94, 1995–96
• Charlton Athletic Player of the Year: 1997–98, 1998–99

See also

In Spanish: Mark Kinsella para niños