Kevin Ball

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kevin Ball

| image =

| fullname = Kevin Anthony Ball

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1964|11|12|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hastings, England

| height = 5 ft 9 in{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=290 |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5}}

| position = Defender, midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1981–1982

| clubs1 = Coventry City

| caps1 = 0

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1982–1990

| clubs2 = Portsmouth

| caps2 = 105

| goals2 = 4

| years3 = 1990–1999

| clubs3 = Sunderland

| caps3 = 340

| goals3 = 21

| years4 = 1999–2000

| clubs4 = Fulham

| caps4 = 18

| goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2000–2002

| clubs5 = Burnley

| caps5 = 82

| goals5 = 2

| totalcaps = 545

| totalgoals = 27

| manageryears1 = 2006

| managerclubs1 = Sunderland (caretaker)

| manageryears2 = 2013

| managerclubs2 = Sunderland (caretaker)

}}

Kevin Ball (born 12 November 1964) is an English former professional footballer who played for Portsmouth, Sunderland, Fulham and Burnley. Since his retirement, he has held a number of positions at Sunderland, including twice being caretaker manager, and was most recently a club ambassador.

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.{{cite web | url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1854 | title=Liverpool 2 - 0 Sunderland | publisher=www.lfchistory.net | access-date=25 September 2013}}

Ball, a former club captain, was named Sunderland Player of the Year for the 1990–91 season, and again in 1996–97, the year they were relegated from the Premier League. He was part of the Sunderland sides that won First Division titles in 1996 and 1999.{{cite web | title = Kevin Ball | publisher=Sunderland A.F.C. | access-date = 20 November 2017 | url = https://www.safc.com/history/the-roker-roar/kevin-ball}}

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.{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/does-sacking-a-manager-late-in-the-season-work-8531590.html?action=gallery&ino=4 | title=Does sacking a manager late in the season work? | work=The Independent | access-date=25 September 2013 | location=London | first=Sam | last=Newhouse | date=26 March 2013}} 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 included 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.{{cite news | url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11695/8937848/kevin-ball-steps-into-breach-as-sunderland-wait-to-name-new-boss | title=Kevin Ball steps into breach as Sunderland wait to name new boss | publisher=Sky Sports | date=23 September 2013 | access-date=25 September 2013}} Ball's first game in charge resulted in a 2–0 home win over Peterborough in the League Cup. He oversaw a further two games,{{cite web| url=https://www.safc.com/history/managers/30-kevin-ball| title=The Managers: Kevin Ball| publisher=Sunderland A.F.C.| access-date=20 November 2017}} before Gus Poyet was appointed to the role.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24441758 |title=Gus Poyet: Sunderland name Uruguayan as new head coach |publisher=BBC Sport|date=8 October 2013| access-date=20 November 2017}} After a long spell as a Club Ambassador at Sunderland he was made redundant in 2022.{{cite news| title = Kevin Ball: Sunderland are working hard to get the right man in as soon as possible | last = Johns | first = Craig | work = ChronicleLive| publisher=Trinity Mirror North East | date = 9 November 2017 | access-date = 20 November 2017 | url = http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/kevin-ball-sunderland-working-hard-13880500}}{{Cite web|title=Sunderland legend Kevin Ball leaves club after 32 years|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/19931423.sunderland-legend-kevin-ball-leaves-club-32-years/|access-date=20 February 2022|website=The Northern Echo|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Sunderland AFC Website|url=https://www.safc.com/news/club-news/2022/february/kevin-ball-leaves-sunderland-afc}}

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{{cite web |url=http://www.safc.com/page/SolidGoldXI |title=Solid Gold XI |publisher=Sunderland A.F.C |date=5 March 2011 |access-date=2 July 2011}}