GARY KELLY

Personal Stats
DOB: 9th July 1974
Birthplace: Drogheda
Height: 5'9"

Profile

Up until last season, Gary Kelly had made more appearances for Leeds than any other member of the current squad, but he was unable to add to that tally last season, due to an ongoing shin splints problem which ruled him out for the whole of the 1998/99 campaign.
As a few doubters predicted he would find it hard to force his way back into the Leeds first team, he has silenced any critics by once again making the right back role his own, despite the signing of Danny Mills in the summer of 1999.
It was in season 1993/94 that Gary, the youngest of a family of thirteen, burst on to the scene after Howard Wilkinson tried him out as a right back. Remarkably, by the end of his first season, he was a member of Jack Charlton's Republic of Ireland side that went to the U.S.A for the 1994 World Cup Finals.
For two seasons, the flying fullback was an ever present in the Leeds team, and established himself as an Eire regular under Big Jack.
Arguably there was too much football, at too young an age, for the lad who'd become a regular at only 18, and it was possibly only in the latter part of the 97/98 season, after a switch to right midfield that Kelly regained the zest that had marked him out as such a prospect five years before.
George Graham, recognising the new maturity and leadership the Irishman was displaying, and with David Hopkin out of the side, installed Kelly as skipper, at the age of 23.
The came the nighmare season through injury, but Kells has battled back superbly, fighting his way back into the first team, taking over as skipper when Lucas Radebe was on international duty and his reward is a new five year contract, that should mean he sees out the rest of his career at Elland Road.
He now has a real chance of surpassing Jack Charlton's all-time record number of 773 appearances in the Leeds shirt.

Career Stats:

Squad No. 2

Position: Right Back

Date Signed: 24th September 1991

Signed from: Home Farm

Transfer fee: None

International Honours: Rep Of Ireland Full/U21

Previous Clubs: Home Farm