Mark Kelly (footballer)
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| Mark Kelly | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Mark Kelly | |
| Date of birth | 27 November 1966 | |
| Place of birth | Basingstoke, England | |
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |
| Playing position | Winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Retired | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1988–1993 | Portsmouth | 91 (2) |
| National team | ||
| 1988–1989 1989-1990 |
Rep of Ireland Republic of Ireland U21 |
4 (0) 3 (0) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Mark Kelly is a former professional footballer who played for Portsmouth F.C. and also won four caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team.
Although English born, Mark played for Ireland through the parentage rule. His first cap came on 27th April 1988 in a 2-0 friendly win over Yugoslavia at Lansdowne Road under then manager Jack Charlton. Interestingly he won his first cap a month before he made his full debut at club level for Portsmouth at Manchester United in May 1988.
Alan Ball described the 18 year old Kelly as "the next George Best" but despite some exciting performances a series of injuries prevented him from becoming fully estalished in the first team. He never recovered from a serious knee injury sustained in 1991 and was forced to retire a year later, after a brief trial at Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in a bid to resurrect his career. Later he played part time for Sligo Rovers and Farnborough Town F.C..
He now works as head of youth development at his former club, Portsmouth.
