Colin Healy
{{Short description|Irish footballer (born 1980)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Colin Healy
| image = Colin Healy.jpg
|image_size = 182
| caption = Healy playing for Cork City in 2007
| fullname = Colin Healy{{Hugman|8655|access-date=8 March 2017}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1980|3|14}}
| birth_place = Cork, Ireland
| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}{{cite news |title=Colin Healy profile |url=https://uk.soccerway.com/players/colin-healy/7033/ |publisher=Soccerway |access-date=17 June 2020}}
| youthyears1 = 1997
| youthclubs1 = Ballincollig and Wilton United
| position = Midfielder
| years1 = 1998–2003 |clubs1 = Celtic |caps1 = 30 |goals1 = 1
| years2 = 2002–2003 |clubs2 = → Coventry City (loan) |caps2 = 17 |goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2003–2006 |clubs3 = Sunderland |caps3 = 20 |goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2006 |clubs4 = Livingston |caps4 = 9 |goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2006–2007 |clubs5 = Barnsley |caps5 = 8 |goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2006 |clubs6 = → Bradford City (loan) |caps6 = 2 |goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2007–2009 |clubs7 = Cork City |caps7 = 62 |goals7 = 2
| years8 = 2009–2011 |clubs8 = Ipswich Town |caps8 = 20 |goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2010 |clubs9 = → Falkirk (loan) |caps9 = 19 |goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2012–2017 |clubs10 = Cork City |caps10 = 110 |goals10 = 5
| totalcaps = 297 | totalgoals = 15
| nationalyears1 = 1998–1999 | nationalteam1 = Republic of Ireland U18
| nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =
| nationalyears2 = 2002–2003 | nationalteam2 = Republic of Ireland
| nationalcaps2 = 13 | nationalgoals2 = 1
| manageryears1 = 2020–2023
| managerclubs1 = Cork City
| manageryears2 = 2023–2024
| managerclubs2 = Republic of Ireland women (assistant)
| manageryears3 = 2025–
| managerclubs3 = Kerry
| club-update =
| ntupdate =
}}
Colin Healy (born 14 March 1980) is an Irish football manager and former player.[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-midfielder-colin-healy-10246818 Former Celtic midfielder Colin Healy retires from football]‚ dailyrecord.co.uk, 18 April 2017 He was appointed manager of Cork City FC in late 2020,{{cite web|url = https://www.corkcityfc.ie/home/2020/12/24/colin-healy-appointed-head-coach/| website = corkcityfc.ie | title = Colin Healy appointed Head Coach | date = 24 December 2020 | accessdate = 6 November 2021 }} and held the post until May 2023.{{cite web|url = https://www.echolive.ie/corksport/arid-41131123.html | website = echolive.ie | publisher = The Echo | title = Colin Healy steps down as Cork City manager | date = 3 May 2023 | accessdate = 5 May 2023 }} He has been the manager of League of Ireland First Division club Kerry FC since May 2025.
He started his senior career at Celtic, spending five years with the Scottish club before joining English side Sunderland in 2003, where he spent three years. He returned to Scotland in 2006 to sign for Livingston. After a short spell with Livingston he returned to England to join Barnsley. After leaving Barnsley in 2007, he joined Irish side Cork City, where he spent two years before joining English side Ipswich Town. He spent two years with Ipswich before returning to the Republic of Ireland to sign for former club Cork City. Healy represented the Republic of Ireland at youth and senior level. He made his senior debut for his country in 2002, going on to win 13 caps, scoring once.
Early and personal life
Healy was born in Ballincollig, County Cork. He came from a sporting family, with his grandfather Paddy Healy having been a Gaelic footballer and hurler who won All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship medals with the Cork inter-county football and hurling teams in 1945 and 1946.{{cite news| url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/corks-comeback-kid-enjoying-his-football-more-than-ever-1062011.html | work=Irish Independent | title=Cork's comeback kid enjoying his football more than ever | date=19 August 2007}}
Married with two children,{{cite web|url = https://www.corkbeo.ie/sport/soccer/cork-city-fc-lead-tributes-28947621 | website = corkbeo.ie | title = Cork City FC lead tributes after death of former manager Colin Healy's wife Kelly | date = 5 April 2024 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }} Healy's wife died in April 2024.{{cite web|url = https://www.thejournal.ie/colin-healy-fai-2-6595773-Jan2025/ | website = thejournal.ie | title = 'Lacking transparency and compassion' - Colin Healy lifts lid on FAI exit in blistering statement | date = 16 January 2025 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2024/1229/1488372-osullivan-questions-fais-call-to-cut-ties-with-healy/ | website = rte.ie | title = Denise O'Sullivan questions FAI's call to cut ties with Colin Healy | date = 29 December 2024 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }} His son, Arran Healy, signed with Cork City in mid-2024.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41386438.html | work = Irish Examiner | title = Colin Healy's son Arran signs first professional contract with Cork City | date = 1 May 2024 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}
Club career
=Early career=
Healy played local soccer with Ballincollig and then Wilton United. He attended the FAS/FAI course in Cork run by former Celtic and Cork City midfielder Mike Conroy and from here he was taken to Celtic Park. He would go on to score three goals for Celtic, his first coming in a league game against Dundee in February 2000.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/scottish_premier/640513.stm |title=Dens Park relief for Dalglish |publisher=BBC |date=12 February 2000 |access-date=15 April 2020}} His other two goals came in Scottish League Cup ties against Hearts and Stirling Albion.{{cite web | url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/scotland/1000778.stm | title= Celtic youngsters see them through |publisher=BBC Sport | date = 1 November 2000 |access-date=19 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/1640599.stm |title=Celts' Maloney mauls Albion |publisher=BBC Sport |date=6 November 2001 |access-date=19 April 2020}} With Celtic he won a Scottish League Cup medal, playing in the team that beat Kilmarnock 3–0 at Hampden on 18 March 2001.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/cis_ins_cup/1226569.stm|title=Celtic clinch Cup with Larsson treble |publisher=BBC |date=18 March 2001 |access-date=15 April 2020}}
=Sunderland=
Sunderland signed Healy from Celtic in 2003. In December 2003 he broke his leg in a match against a former loan club, Coventry City after a challenge by Moroccan international Youssef Safri.
In October 2004, he broke his leg again soon after resuming training with Sunderland, after a tackle from then manager Mick McCarthy. In January 2006, it was announced that Healy's contract with Sunderland had expired, and the midfielder left the club.
=Livingston and Barnsley=
Healy joined SPL club Livingston on 10 March 2006 until the end of the season. On 10 August 2006 Healy signed a one-year contract with Barnsley. Having made only 10 appearances for Barnsley, he had his contract cancelled by mutual consent.
=Cork City and FIFA case=
On 20 February 2007 he signed a two-year contract with hometown League of Ireland club Cork City, alongside former international colleague Gareth Farrelly. FIFA ruled both players to be unable to play for the club, citing a rule forbidding players from transferring between clubs more than twice in a 12-month period between July and June. FIFA rejected appeals made by both players. On 1 July 2007 both Healy and Gareth Farrelly became eligible to play for Cork City. On this date, they both played for the club's under-21 team against Lifford of Ennis, Co Clare, winning the game 2–0.
Healy made his full Cork City debut against Bohemians when they were beaten in extra time in the Eircom League Cup Quarter Final held at Dalymount Park on 3 July 2007.
Healy signed a two-year contract for Cork in 2009. In April 2009, Healy scored his first goal for Cork at Tallaght Stadium.{{Cite web|url=http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/607-report-rovers-1-cork-city-1|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20120910200922/http://www.shamrockrovers.ie/news/34-2009-match-reports/607-report-rovers-1-cork-city-1|url-status=dead|title=Match report – Healy's first Goal for Cork|archive-date=10 September 2012|access-date=30 October 2021}}
=Ipswich Town=
On 16 July 2009, it was confirmed that Cork City had accepted a £100,000 bid from Hartlepool United to take Healy and fellow Cork City teammate Denis Behan to Victoria Park, Hartlepool. However, five days later, Hartlepool United manager Chris Turner confirmed that the deal had not happened due to late interest from Ipswich Town. Healy subsequently signed for Ipswich for an undisclosed fee. In January 2010, he signed on-loan with Scottish Premier League club Falkirk.{{Cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/falkirk/8454021.stm| title = Falkirk sign Ipswich Town's Colin Healy | publisher = BBC Sport| date = 13 January 2010| access-date = 13 January 2010}} At Falkirk he scored once against Aberdeen.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8493138.stm |title=Aberdeen 0 - 1 Falkirk |publisher=BBC |date=2 February 2010 |access-date=15 April 2020}}
Returning to Ipswich from the on-loan spell in Scotland, during the League Cup Semi-Final 2011 first leg win by Ipswich Town over Arsenal,{{Cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_cup/9342035.stm|title = Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal|date = 12 January 2011}} it was commented that "Colin Healy made Cesc Fabregas look like Colin Healy".{{Cite web|url=https://www.twtd.co.uk/members/chrisswailes/polls/3480/who-said-andquot;colin-healy-made-cesc-fabregas-look-like-colin-healyandquot;|title = Ipswich Town|website=Twtd.co.uk}} In February 2011 Healy scored his first goal for Ipswich against Doncaster Rovers.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/9395076.stm |title=Doncaster 0 - 6 Ipswich |publisher=BBC |date=15 February 2011 |access-date=15 April 2020}} His contract was terminated by mutual consent in November 2011.{{cite web|title=HEALY LEAVES TOWN |url=http://www.itfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10272~2525643,00.html |work=Ipswich Town |access-date=24 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125231326/http://www.itfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10272~2525643%2C00.html |archivedate=25 November 2011 }}
=Return to Cork City=
In 2013, Healy returned to Cork City on a three-year deal. His most memorable moment came against St Patrick's Athletic in 2014 when he scored a late over head kick against a fellow title rival. He and Cork finished runners up behind Dundalk for three years in a row and Healy lost the 2015 FAI Cup to Dundalk before finally winning a trophy in March 2016 in the Presidents Cup and the 2016 FAI Cup final where he came off the bench. He retired from playing in April 2017.
Coaching career
After retirement from playing he was Cork City's "head of academy" for a number of seasons before being appointed "first team head coach" in December 2020.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/league-of-ireland/healy-takes-on-relegation-fight-with-cork-as-fenn-departs-his-dream-job-39603780.html | website = independent.ie | publisher = Independent News & Media | title = Healy takes on relegation fight with Cork as Fenn departs his 'dream job' | date = 9 October 2020 | access-date = 9 October 2020 }} He resigned the post in May 2023.
In February 2024, he was named as Eileen Gleeson's assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland women's national team alongside Emma Byrne on a permanent basis, having been in the role since 2023 while Gleeson was originally in interim charge of the team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/emma-byrne-and-colin-healy-to-remain-assistants-with-womens-national-side/a891611268.html|title=Emma Byrne and Colin Healy to remain assistants with women's national side|date=12 February 2024|website=Independent.ie}} Healy left this role in late 2024, when his contract was not extended by the FAI, in circumstances described in some sources as "controversial" and "disgraceful".{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41568307.html | work = Irish Examiner | title = Denise O'Sullivan accuses FAI of 'lacking class' in Colin Healy debacle | date = 5 February 2025 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/arid-41575531.html | website = Irish Examiner | title = Colin Healy escalates grievance with FAI over exit | date = 16 February 2025 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/2025/02/19/stephen-bradley-brands-fai-treatment-of-colin-healy-as-disgraceful/ | work = Irish Times | title = Stephen Bradley brands FAI treatment of Colin Healy as 'disgraceful' |date = 19 February 2025 | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}
On 5 May 2025, he was appointed as manager of League of Ireland First Division club Kerry.{{cite web |url = https://kerryfc.com/kerry-football-club-announces-colin-healy-as-first-team-manager/ | website = kerryfc.com | title = Kerry Football Club announces Colin Healy as First Team Manager | accessdate = 6 May 2025 }}
International career
Healy played and scored a goal against Australia at the FIFA World Youth Championship finals in Nigeria in 1999.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191313/matches/match=31053/report.html|title=FIFA.com|date=11 December 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211165721/http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/tournament=104/edition=191313/matches/match=31053/report.html|access-date=30 October 2021|archive-date=11 December 2007}}
He represented his country at the UEFA U-19 Championship in Sweden in 1999, and won a bronze medal.{{cite web|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1999/0717/Pg032.html#Ar03202:22550026B51A|title=Sweet start|website=Irishtimes.com|date=17 July 1999|access-date=30 October 2021}}
During the Saipan incident between Mick McCarthy and fellow Cork man Roy Keane at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, Healy was called upon by McCarthy as the replacement should Keane be dropped from the squad. A succession of changes-of-heart by the Manchester United player led to the call-up being delayed and the deadline passing, with Healy unable to join the World Cup squad.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/rep_of_ireland/newsid_2001000/2001771.stm |title=Healy in call-up nightmare |publisher=BBC |date=22 May 2002 |access-date=15 April 2020}}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/rep_of_ireland/newsid_2003000/2003681.stm |title=Keane sent home |publisher=BBC |date=23 May 2002 |access-date=15 April 2020}}
Career statistics
=Club=
| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;"
|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan=2|Club
!rowspan=2|Season !colspan=3|League !colspan=2|National Cup !colspan=2|League Cup !colspan=2|Other !colspan=2|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| rowspan="6"|Celtic
|3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1999–00
|Scottish Premier League |10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1Appearance(s) in UEFA Cup | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2000–01
|Scottish Premier League |12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |
| 2001–02
|Scottish Premier League |4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2002–03
|Scottish Premier League |1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!30 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 48 | 3 | |
| Coventry City (loan)
|17 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 17 | 2 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Sunderland
|First Division |20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2004–05
|0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 0 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| Livingston
|Scottish Premier League |9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 9 | 2 | ||
| Barnsley
|Championship |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||
| Bradford City (loan)
|2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| rowspan="4"|Cork City
|2007 |18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | |
| 2008
|Premier Division |24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | |
| 2009
|Premier Division |20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 20 | 2 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!62 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62 | 2 | |
| rowspan="4"|Ipswich Town
|Championship |3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2010–11
|Championship |16 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 22 | 2 | ||
| 2011–12
|Championship |1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 2 | 0 | ||
| colspan=2|Total
!20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 2 | |
| Falkirk (loan)
|Scottish Premier League |19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 19 | 1 | ||
| rowspan="6"|Cork City
|2012 |Premier Division |21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 21 | 0 | ||
| 2013
|Premier Division |23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 23 | 1 | ||
| 2014
|Premier Division |27 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2015
|Premier Division |20 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2Appearances in UEFA Europa League | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| 2016
|Premier Division |19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total
!110 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 115 | 5 | |
| colspan=3|Career total
!297 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 16 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 333 | 17 |
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
=International=
:Source:{{NFT player|id=3302|access-date=}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan=3|Republic of Ireland | |||
| 2002 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 0 | |
| colspan=2|Total||13||1 |
=International goals=
Republic of Ireland score listed first, score column indicates score after each Healy goal.
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |
| scope=col|No.
!scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |
|---|
| scope=row style="text-align: center;"|1
|21 August 2002||Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland||scope=row style="text-align: center;"|4||{{fb|FIN}}||align=center|2–0||align=center|3–0||Friendly |
Honours
;Celtic
;Cork City
;Manager
;Individual
- PFAI Team of the Year: 2014 Premier Division{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2014/1021/653890-pfai/ |title=Dundalk dominate PFAI team of the year |website=Rte.ie|date=21 October 2014 |access-date=20 November 2018}}
- League of Ireland Player of the Year: 2014{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish/2015/0322/689001-john-oshea-named-ireland-player-of-the-year/|title=John O'Shea named Ireland player of the year|date=22 March 2015|work=rte.ie|access-date=24 March 2015}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{League of Ireland managers}}
{{Cork City F.C. managers}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|titlestyle=background: gold
|list1=
{{FAI League Player of the Year}}
{{2014 PFAI League of Ireland Premier Division Team of the Year}}
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Healy, Colin}}
Category:Association footballers from Cork (city)
Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's youth international footballers
Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Coventry City F.C. players
Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players
Category:Livingston F.C. players
Category:Barnsley F.C. players
Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players
Category:Cork City F.C. players
Category:Ipswich Town F.C. players
Category:Scottish Premier League players
Category:English Football League players
Category:League of Ireland players