Andrew Robert Kirk (born 29 May 1979) is a Northern Irish professional football coach and former player who is currently the caretaker manager of Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone.
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Andrew Robert Kirk[1] | ||
Date of birth | 29 May 1979 | ||
Place of birth | Belfast, Northern Ireland | ||
Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
Position(s) | Forward | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | St Johnstone (assistant manager) | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1998–1999 | Glentoran | 75 | (26) |
1999–2004 | Heart of Midlothian | 114 | (30) |
2004–2005 | Boston United | 25 | (18) |
2005–2008 | Northampton Town | 106 | (30) |
2008 | Yeovil Town | 19 | (4) |
2008–2013 | Dunfermline Athletic | 146 | (51) |
2013–2014 | Alloa Athletic | 32 | (5) |
Total | 517 | (164) | |
International career | |||
1990–2001 | Northern Ireland U21 | 9 | (2) |
2003 | Northern Ireland B | 1 | (0) |
2000–2010 | Northern Ireland | 11 | (0) |
Managerial career | |||
2016 | Heart of Midlothian (joint interim manager) | ||
2020–2021 | Hearts Women | ||
2021–2023 | Brechin City | ||
2024 | St Johnstone (caretaker) | ||
*Club domestic league appearances and goals |
Kirk played for Glentoran, Heart of Midlothian, Boston United, Northampton Town, Yeovil Town, Dunfermline Athletic and Alloa Athletic. He was also capped by Northern Ireland.
He began his managerial career with Hearts Women before joining Brechin City in 2021. Kirk left Brechin in November 2023 to assist Craig Levein at St Johnstone.
Personal Life
editAndy has two sons one called Makenzie Kirk who is a striker for St Johnstone and the other son is also a footballer for Livingston B team called Corey Kirk.[2]
Early life
editAndy Kirk is the son of former footballer and former Lisburn Distillery manager Paul Kirk.[3]
Playing career
editClub
editGlentoran
editKirk started his career with Belfast side Glentoran and quickly established himself as one of the top strikers in the Irish League, scoring 26 league goals in the 1998–99 season.
Kirk enjoyed a successful time with the Glens and under manager Roy Coyle winning the Gold Cup, County Antrim Shield and Irish Premiership title.
Heart of Midlothian
editHaving had several unsuccessful trials in England.[citation needed] In February 1999 Jim Jefferies signed Kirk for Heart of Midlothian for £50,000.
Initially viewed as an investment for the future, Kirk played in the club's U-21 side for most of his first two seasons at Tynecastle Stadium. However, in 2000–01 he firmly established himself in the first eleven, making 40 appearances and scoring 13 times. After a season decimated by injuries, he made further double-figure scoring contributions in 2002–03 and 2003–04. However, financial restraints at the Edinburgh club resulted in Kirk being released when his contract expired in the summer of 2004.
Boston United
editSteve Evans signed Kirk for English League Two side Boston United. Kirk excelled at York Street, scoring 20 goals in little over 8 months.
Northampton Town
editIn March 2005 Kirk signed for Northampton Town for a £125,000 fee, signing a three-and-a-half-year contract.[4]
Despite Kirk scoring on his debut, Northampton lost to Rushden & Diamonds and a stuttering finish to the season witnessed them fall in the play-off semi-finals. The following season, Kirk's 10 goals ensured there was no repeat and Northampton gained promotion to League One. During the 2006–07 season Kirk was transfer listed alongside fellow strikers James Quinn and Scott McGleish. However, Kirk was taken off the transfer list at the beginning of the 2007–08 season and rewarded manager Stuart Gray with 3 goals in the first 3 games.
Yeovil Town
editKirk moved to Yeovil Town on 17 January 2008 for an undisclosed fee. He signed a two-and-a-half-year contract.[5] He scored twice in the first three games for his new club. In summer 2008 Yeovil rejected a bid from Morecambe for Kirk,[6] though they went on to sell him to Scottish First Division team Dunfermline Athletic.
Dunfermline Athletic
editIn August 2008 Kirk signed a three-year contract.[7] He made his debut coming on as a sub against First Division rivals Partick Thistle[8] and scored his first two goals a week later against Queen of the South in a 2–1 win.[9] Kirk has gone on to enjoy the most prolific goal-scoring period of his career with the Pars.
Alloa Athletic
editIn June 2013 Kirk signed with newly promoted First Division team Alloa Athletic[10] having trained with the club in the latter part of the 2012/13 season after being released by Dunfermline due to the club being in administration.
International
editKirk was capped 11 times by Northern Ireland. His debut came against Hungary in April 2000. After a four-year absence he played against the Czech Republic in October 2009.[11][12] His most recent appearance was in a friendly against Albania in 2010.[13]
Coaching career
editKirk joined Rangers Academy as a youth coach in March 2015.[14] He returned to Edinburgh in February 2016 to coach Heart of Midlothian's U17 team.[15] In December 2016, Kirk became joint interim manager with Jon Daly following Robbie Neilson's departure.[16]
In August 2020, Kirk was appointed the First Team Manager and Girls' Academy Manager of Hearts Women.[17]
Brechin City
editIn June 2021, Kirk was appointed the manager of Highland League side Brechin City.[18] Brechin won the Highland League championship in 2022–23,[19] but lost on penalties in the promotion playoffs to The Spartans.[20]
St Johnstone
editKirk left Brechin in November 2023 to become assistant manager of Premiership club St Johnstone, working alongside Craig Levein.[21]
Honours
editClub
edit- Glentoran
- Irish Premier League: 1998–99
- Irish Cup: 1997–98
- Gold Cup: 1998–99
- County Antrim Shield: 1998–99
- Dunfermline Athletic
Individual
edit- SFL Player of the Month: August 2010
- SFL Ginger Boot: August 2010
References
edit- ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2008). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09. Mainstream. ISBN 978-1-84596-324-8.
- ^ "Corey Kirk Signs on Loan". Brechin City FC. 16 September 2023.
- ^ Beacom, Steven (5 July 2008). "Football:A lucky break for Hearts ace Andy". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 24 July 2021.
- ^ Kirk completes switch to Cobblers, BBC Sport, 10 March 2005
- ^ Cobbler Kirk seals Yeovil switch, BBC Sport, 17 January 2008
- ^ McIlroy targets four new players, BBC Sport, 29 May 2008
- ^ "Dunfermline snap up striker Kirk". BBC Sport. 1 August 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2008.
- ^ "Partick Thistle 1–0 Dunfermline". BBC Sport. 2 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
- ^ "Dunfermline 2–1 Queen of the South". BBC Sport. 9 August 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
- ^ "Andy Krik Signs". Alloa Athletic FC. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
- ^ Evans joins N Ireland absentees
- ^ Czech Republic 0–0 N Ireland
- ^ "ALBANIA 1–0 NORTHERN IRELAND". irishfa.com. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2013.
- ^ Dickinson, Andrew (19 March 2015). "Rangers hire three new coaches in academy shake-up". The Scotsman. Johnston Press. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- ^ Brown, Anthony (21 October 2016). "Andy Kirk loving role preparing Hearts stars of future". The Scotsman. Edinburgh: Johnston Press.
- ^ McLaughlin, Brian (2 December 2016). "Hearts: Levein seeks 'young' coach to succeed Neilson". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2 December 2016.
- ^ "Andy Kirk new Women's First Team and Girls' Academy Manager | Heart of Midlothian Football Club". heartsfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ "Brechin City Football Club". brechincity.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ Atkinson, Mark (22 April 2023). "Brechin City seal Highland League title in dramatic style as Stirling Albion clinch League Two crown". The Scotsman. National World. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
- ^ "Brechin City 3–2 The Spartans". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
- ^ "Craig Levein: St Johnstone appoint former Scotland and Hearts manager as team boss". BBC Sport. 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
External links
edit- Andy Kirk at Soccerbase
- "Profile at dafc.co.uk". Archived from the original on 21 September 2008. Retrieved 5 July 2017.
- "Official Irish FA Profile". Archived from the original on 18 March 2006. Retrieved 5 October 2006.
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: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) - Andy Kirk at National-Football-Teams.com