Introduction
Kevin Ball (born 12 November 1964) is an English former footballer who holds the position of senior professional development coach at Sunderland.
Playing career
Born in Hastings, Ball began his career in central defence but eventually moved into central midfield. He played 389 games for Sunderland in all competitions, scoring 27 goals. His career took off with a spell at Portsmouth and, after leaving Sunderland, he had spells at Fulham and Burnley. Whilst at Sunderland, he played in the 1992 FA Cup Final where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
He was named Sunderland F.C. Player of the Year for season 1996/97, the year they were relegated from the Premier League.
Managerial career
Between 6 March and 8 May 2006 Ball acted as Sunderland caretaker manager for the last ten games of the 2005–06 season following the sacking of Mick McCarthy, taking five points from these games. Although Ball expressed his interest in the manager's job on a full-time basis, incoming chairman Niall Quinn was keen for the club to appoint a 'world-class manager' following the club's takeover by the Drumaville Consortium, ruling Ball out of the running. Ball remained at Sunderland under the new regime, returning to his former post of assistant academy manager. Manager Martin O'Neill promoted Ball to become the club's senior professional development coach in July 2012, which includes being responsible for the club's reserve team and the club's under-21 players. In 2013, he again became caretaker manager following the sacking of Paolo Di Canio.
Kevin Ball's first game in charge resulted in a 2 - 0 home win over Peterborough in the Capital One League Cup.
Managerial statistics
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Sunderland | 7 March 2006 | 31 May 2006 | 7001100000000000000♠10 | 7000100000000000000♠1 | 7000200000000000000♠2 | 7000700000000000000♠7 | 7001100000000000000♠10.00 |
| 22 September 2013 | 8 October 2013 | 7000300000000000000♠3 | 7000100000000000000♠1 | 5000000000000000000♠0 | 7000200000000000000♠2 | 7001333300000000000♠33.33 | |
| Total | 7001130000000000000♠13 | 7000200000000000000♠2 | 7000200000000000000♠2 | 7000900000000000000♠9 | 7001153800000000000♠15.38 | ||
Honours and Awards
As a player
Sunderland
- Football League First Division winner: 1995-96, 1998–99
- FA Cup runner up: 1991–92
Individual
- Sunderland Player of the Year: 1996/97
- Sunderland Solid Gold XI