Rob Kiernan

Last updated

Rob Kiernan
Personal information
Full name Robert Samuel Kiernan [1]
Date of birth (1991-01-13) 13 January 1991 (age 32) [1]
Place of birth Rickmansworth, England
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) [1]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
2000–2008 Watford
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2008–2011 Watford 2 (0)
2010 → Kilmarnock (loan) 4 (0)
2010 → Yeovil Town (loan) 3 (0)
2010–2011 → Bradford City (loan) 8 (0)
2011 → Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2 (0)
2011–2015 Wigan Athletic 29 (1)
2012 → Accrington Stanley (loan) 3 (0)
2012 → Burton Albion (loan) 6 (0)
2012–2013 → Brentford (loan) 8 (0)
2013 → Southend United (loan) 12 (0)
2015 → Birmingham City (loan) 12 (1)
2015–2017 Rangers 57 (1)
2017–2020 Southend United 30 (2)
2020–2022 Orange County SC 44 (2)
International career
2008 Republic of Ireland U18 3 (1)
2009–2010 Republic of Ireland U19 6 (0)
2010–2013 Republic of Ireland U21 14 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Robert Samuel Kiernan (born 13 January 1991) is a former professional footballer who played as a defender. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Contents

Kiernan has previously played for Watford, Wigan Athletic and Rangers, and has also spent time on loan at Kilmarnock, Yeovil Town, Bradford City, Wycombe Wanderers, [2] Accrington Stanley, Burton Albion, Brentford, Southend United and Birmingham City. He ended his career with American club Orange County SC. Kiernan, who was born in Hertfordshire, played for the Republic of Ireland at youth levels up to and including under-21.

Club career

Watford

Kiernan was born in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, [3] and began his football career as a youngster with Watford. Watford sent two youth squads to the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland in the summer of 2008. Kiernan was moved from his natural position of central midfielder to play centre-half, to take advantage of his height and physical presence, [4] and also captained the side. [5] His performances drew praise from his then coach Mark Warburton. [6]

Later that summer, Kiernan was called up by the Ireland under-19 team for a four-nation tournament, but he had to withdraw after tearing his right thigh muscle. [4]

Kiernan captained Watford's under-18 side in 2008–09, [4] in which they reached the quarter-finals of the FA Youth Cup. [7] In October 2008, he, together with fellow second-year scholars Billy Gibson and Ross Jenkins, signed "developmental contracts" – professional contracts signed earlier than usual, allowing the players to continue their scholarships without the pressure of worrying about the future –to run until the end of the 2009–10 season. [8]

When Brendan Rodgers was appointed Watford manager in November 2008, Kiernan began to take part in some first-team training sessions. [9] He was included in the senior matchday squad for the first time on 24 January 2009 for an FA Cup fourth-round tie against Crystal Palace at Vicarage Road, and made his debut as a 90th-minute substitute, replacing Gavin Hoyte, as Watford won 4–3. [10] Although he made no more first-team appearances that season, he finish with 17 starts for the Academy side and 9 for the reserves. [11] [12]

Loans

After a trial in January 2010, Kiernan joined Scottish Premier League side Kilmarnock on loan; manager Jimmy Calderwood wanted him as cover with two defensive players injured. [13] He joined Kilmarnock on the same day as Watford teammate Scott Severin, and was given the number 29 shirt. [14] Kiernan made his debut the next day as a 73rd-minute substitute in a 1–0 league win against Celtic. [15] Kiernan played three matches for Yeovil Town at the start of the 2010–11 season, [16] and on 12 November joined Bradford City on a two-month loan. [17] Conference side Histon had previously attempted to sign Kiernan on loan. [18]

Wigan Athletic

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Kiernan rejected Watford's offer of a new two-year contract; the "slightly reduced" terms offered entitled him to leave the club without compensation becoming payable by his next employer. [19] He signed for Premier League club Wigan Athletic, [20] In March 2012, having failed to feature in Wigan's first team, Kiernan joined League Two Accrington Stanley on loan for the remainder of the season, [21] but ankle ligament damage cut the loan spell to just three matches. [22] He returned to match fitness with the help of a month's loan at Burton Albion, also of League Two, in the early part of the following season, [23] and in November moved on to League One Brentford on loan until January 2013. [24] He then renewed his loan deal on 11 January 2013. On 12 October 2013, Kiernan joined League Two side Southend United on a three-month loan deal, [25] however, he was recalled on 29 December, as cover after Thomas Rogne was injured on Boxing Day. [26] Kiernan made a strong end to the 2013–14 season, scoring his first goal for the club against Leicester City [27] and featuring in the play-off semi-final defeat by Queens Park Rangers, and signed a three-year contract extension in May 2014. [28]

However, after struggling to feature the following season, Kiernan joined then Championship club Birmingham City in February 2015 on loan until the end of the 2014–15 season. [29] He made his debut on 21 February at Brighton & Hove Albion, starting the match in central midfield in place of the injured David Davis, and played 78 minutes of the 4–3 defeat. [30] He went on to form a partnership at centre-half with Jonathan Spector, [31] and then played alongside Michael Morrison after the latter's return from injury. Kiernan was credited with his first goal for the club on 11 April against Wolverhampton Wanderers; he scored from close range after Jonathan Grounds' shot had already crossed the line unnoticed by the officials and been pushed back into play. [32] A hamstring injury meant he missed the last two matches of the season. [33]

Rangers

On 22 June 2015, Kiernan signed a two-year deal at Rangers [34] with the transfer fee reported to be £200,000. [35] Over the course of the subsequent season, he played in central defence alongside Danny Wilson. [36] [37] The pair, however, received criticism for some of their performances, [36] [37] notably in the team's 3–2 loss to Hibernian in the 2016 Scottish Cup Final. [38] On 19 July 2016, Kiernan extended his contract with Rangers for another year, until 2018. [39] Kiernan scored his first goal for Rangers and only his third goal of his professional career on 10 December 2016, heading a James Tavernier free-kick to net the first of two goals as Rangers won 2–0. [40] On 27 December 2016, he was linked with a £2m move to Fulham [41] and the following day, during Rangers' 1–1 draw with St Johnstone, Kiernan appeared to strike Saints captain Steven Anderson. [42] For this, Kiernan was offered a two-match suspension for violent conduct by the Scottish Football Association, however he chose to contest the charge and it was ultimately dismissed by disciplinary tribunal on 12 January. [43]

Return to Southend United

Kiernan returned to English football in 2017, signing a three-year contract with League One club Southend United on 3 August for an undisclosed fee. [44] Kiernan was released by Southend on 31 January 2020. [45]

Orange County SC

On 7 February 2020, Kiernan joined USA club Orange County SC. He made 47 appearances and scored two goals before retiring from football in April 2023, [46] due to a hip injury. [47]

International career

Kiernan has captained the Republic of Ireland national football team at age-group levels. [48] [49] He qualified to play for Ireland as his father was born in County Wexford. [50]

Career statistics

As of match played 29 November 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational Cup [lower-alpha 1] League Cup [lower-alpha 2] OtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Watford 2008–09 [51] Championship 001000—10
2009–10 [52] Championship000000—00
2010–11 [16] Championship001000—10
Total002000—20
Kilmarnock (loan) 2009–10 [52] Scottish Premier League 4010——50
Yeovil Town (loan) 2010–11 [16] League One 30—00—30
Bradford City (loan) 2010–11 [16] League Two 80———80
Wycombe Wanderers (loan) 2010–11 [16] League Two20———20
Wigan Athletic 2011–12 [53] Premier League 000000—00
2012–13 [54] Premier League000000—00
2013–14 [55] Championship121—002 [lower-alpha 3] 0141
2014–15 [56] Championship1701000—180
Total291100020321
Accrington Stanley (loan) 2011–12 [53] League Two30———30
Burton Albion (loan) 2012–13 [54] League Two60———60
Brentford (loan) 2012–13 [54] League One8000—1 [lower-alpha 4] 090
Southend United (loan) 2013–14 [55] League Two12020——140
Birmingham City (loan) 2014–15 [56] Championship121———121
Rangers 2015–16 [57] Scottish Championship 33050304 [lower-alpha 5] 0450
2016–17 [58] Scottish Premiership 2412050—311
Total571708040761
Southend United 2017–18 [59] League One1000100020
2018–19 [60] League One101000000101
2019–20 [61] League One19110003 [lower-alpha 6] 0231
Total302101030352
Orange County SC 2020 [46] USL Championship 15000——150
2021 [46] USL Championship28200—3 [lower-alpha 7] 0312
2022 [46] USL Championship1000——10
Total44200—30472
Career total2187140901302547

Honours

Rangers
Orange County SC

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References

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  2. ↑ "Watford's Kiernan joins Wycombe, Townsend leaves". BBC Sport. 23 February 2011. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  3. ↑ Rollin, Glenda & Rollin, Jack, eds. (2010). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2010–2011. London: Headline. p. 540. ISBN   978-0-7553-6107-6.
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  15. ↑ Conaghan, Martin (2 February 2010). "Kilmarnock 1–0 Celtic". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
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  33. ↑ Dick, Brian (1 May 2015). "Find out who's available to Gary Rowett – and who isn't". Birmingham Mail. Birmingham: Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
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  36. 1 2 Jack, Christopher (30 September 2015). "Danny Wilson and Rob Kiernan get Rangers pass marks so far, but they will get even better with time says Ibrox legend Brown". The Herald. Glasgow: Herald & Times Group. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  37. 1 2 "Derek Johnstone: Rangers defensive woes were not a surprise against Saints". Evening Times. Glasgow: Herald & Times Group. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
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  42. ↑ Wilson, Richard (28 December 2016). "St Johnstone 1–1 Rangers". BBC Sport. BBC.
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  46. 1 2 3 4 "R. Kiernan: Summary". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
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  52. 1 2 "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  53. 1 2 "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  54. 1 2 3 "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  55. 1 2 "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 12 February 2015.
  56. 1 2 "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 2 May 2015.
  57. ↑ "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  58. ↑ "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  59. ↑ "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 3 August 2017.
  60. ↑ "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  61. ↑ "Games played by Rob Kiernan in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
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  63. ↑ English, Tom (10 April 2016). "Rangers 4–0 Peterhead". BBC Sport. BBC. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
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