Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 20, 2026

Graham Kavanagh

Graham Anthony Kavanagh is an Irish football manager and former professional players.

Last revised
Jul 20, 2026
Read time
≈ 8 min
Length
1,877 w
Citations
66
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Graham Kavanagh
Personal information
Full name Graham Anthony Kavanagh1
Date of birth (1973-12-02) 2 December 19731
Place of birth Dublin, Ireland1
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)1
Position Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1990–1991 Home Farm
1991–1996 Middlesbrough 35 (3)
1994 → Darlington (loan) 5 (0)
1996 → Stoke City (loan) 3 (1)
1996–2001 Stoke City 203 (33)
2001–2005 Cardiff City 142 (28)
2005–2006 Wigan Athletic 48 (0)
2006–2009 Sunderland 14 (1)
2007 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 7 (1)
2008 → Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 16 (1)
2008–2009 → Carlisle United (loan) 10 (3)
2009–2011 Carlisle United 54 (4)
Total 537 (75)
International career
1992–1993 Republic of Ireland U21 5 (0)
1998–2006 Republic of Ireland 16 (1)
Managerial career
2013–2014 Carlisle United
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Graham Anthony Kavanagh (born 2 December 1973) is an Irish football manager and former professional players.

Kavanagh had a 19-year-long career and played for Middlesbrough, Stoke City, Cardiff City, Wigan Athletic, Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Carlisle United. He also played 16 games for the Republic of Ireland national football team, scoring once.1

Club career

Kavanagh began his career at Home Farm, before joining Middlesbrough in 1991 but struggled to ever hold down a first team place and was sold to Stoke City in 1996, after a short loan spell at the club, for £250,000. In 1996–97 he made 41 appearances scoring four goals including the final goal at the Victoria Ground against West Bromwich Albion.1 Kavanagh also had the honour of scoring Stoke's first goal at the Britannia Stadium in a League Cup match against Rochdale. He scored 10 goals in 1997–98 as Stoke suffered relegation to the third tier. In 1998–99 he top-scored with 13 goals as failed mount a sustained promotion challenge under Brian Little in 1998–99.1 In 1999–2000 Kavanagh scored 10 goals as Stoke reached the play-offs where they lost to Gillingham.1 He also played and scored in the 2000 Football League Trophy final as Stoke beat Bristol City 2–1. He was again a regular in 2000–01 as Stoke again failed in the play-offs this time losing to Walsall.1 He left Stoke in the summer of 2001 after making 244 appearances scoring 45 goals.1

He joined Cardiff City in July 2001 for £1 million, and went on to score fifteen times in his first season at the club and help them to promotion the following year when they beat Queens Park Rangers in the Second Division play-off final. He scored one of Cardiff's goals as they memorably knocked out then Premiership Leeds United in the FA Cup third round in 2002.2 He also scored the winning goal in the FAW Premier Cup final against rivals Swansea

During the 2004–05 season Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam revealed that the club was in serious financial trouble and as such a number of players left the club to attempt to regain losses, including Kavanagh who signed for Wigan Athletic for a fee close to £400,000.3 Whilst at Wigan he started in the 2006 Football League Cup Final. On 31 August 2006, he signed a three-year deal with Roy Keane's Sunderland for £500,000. During that season he played 14 games, scoring one goal against Leeds,4 before he was ruled out for the majority of games due to lingering injury problems.

He joined Sheffield Wednesday on 21 September 2007 on a loan deal to regain his fitness5 where he played seven games, scoring one goal against Watford on 2 October.6 On 29 December, Leicester City made a bid for Kavanagh, together with Márton Fülöp.7 However, on 31 January 2008 Kavanagh again joined Wednesday on a loan deal until the end of the season.

Kavanagh joined League One side Carlisle United on a month's loan on 10 October 2008.8 This loan was extended for a further month on 7 November.9 It was again extended on 18 December and would expire on 3 January 2009.10

Managerial career

On 9 January 2009, Kavanagh was released by Sunderland and returned to Carlisle on a permanent basis as a player-coach.11 In April 2013, Kavanagh continued his post as Assistant Manager at the end of the 2012–13 season, after signing a new one-year deal. In September 2013 manager Greg Abbott was sacked and Kavanagh was installed as caretaker manager.12 Kavanagh was then appointed manager on a permanent basis on 30 September 2013 signing a two-year contract.13 Carlisle were 22nd on the ladder at the time of Kavanagh's caretaker appointment, and finished the 2013–14 season in the same position, to be relegated to League Two. After a poor start to the 2014–15 season Kavanagh left Carlisle on 1 September 2014.14

International career

Kavanagh earned 16 international caps for the Republic of Ireland, the last of which was on 16 August 2006 against the Netherlands.

Personal life

His son Calum is a professional footballer for Oldham Athletic, having started his career at Middlesbrough.15

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition16
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Middlesbrough 1992–9317 Premier League 10 0 2 0 0 0 — 12 0
1993–9418 First Division 11 2 1 1 1 0 4a 0 17 3
1994–9519 First Division 7 0 1 0 0 0 2a 0 10 0
1995–9620 Premier League 7 1 0 0 0 0 — 7 1
Total 35 3 4 1 1 0 6 0 46 4
Darlington (loan) 1993–9418 Third Division 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
Stoke City 1996–9721 First Division 38 4 1 0 2 0 — 41 4
1997–9822 First Division 44 5 0 0 5 5 — 49 10
1998–9923 Second Division 36 11 2 0 2 1 2b 1 42 13
1999–200024 Second Division 45 7 1 0 4 1 9c 2 59 10
2000–0125 Second Division 43 7 2 0 5 0 4d 1 54 8
Total 206 34 6 0 18 7 15 4 245 45
Cardiff City 2001–0226 Second Division 43 13 4 2 1 0 2e 0 50 15
2002–0327 Second Division 44 5 4 1 2 0 3e 0 53 6
2003–0428 First Division 27 7 1 0 1 0 — 29 7
2004–0529 Championship 28 3 2 0 3 0 — 33 3
Total 142 28 11 3 7 0 5 0 165 31
Wigan Athletic 2004–0529 Championship 11 0 0 0 0 0 — 11 0
2005–0630 Premier League 35 0 2 0 5 0 — 42 0
2006–0731 Premier League 2 0 0 0 0 0 — 2 0
Total 48 0 2 0 5 0 — 55 0
Sunderland 2006–0731 Championship 14 1 0 0 0 0 — 14 1
Sheffield Wednesday (loan) 2007–0832 Championship 23 2 1 0 1 0 — 25 2
Carlisle United 2008–0933 League One 34 5 3 1 0 0 0 0 36 6
2009–1034 League One 29 2 4 0 1 0 5b 3 39 5
2010–1135 League One 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Total 64 7 7 1 1 0 5 3 77 11
Career total 537 75 31 5 33 7 31 7 632 94
  1. Appearances in Anglo-Italian Cup
  2. Appearances in Football League Trophy
  3. Seven appearances and two goals in Football League Trophy and two appearances in Second Division play-offs
  4. Two appearances in Football League Trophy and two appearances and one goal in Second Division play-offs
  5. Appearances in Second Division play-offs

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year36
National team Year Apps Goals
Republic of Ireland 1998 1 0
1999 2 1
2003 1 0
2004 5 0
2005 4 0
2006 3 0
Total 16 1

Managerial statistics

As of 1 September 201437
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Carlisle United 9 September 2013 1 September 2014 52 13 14 25 025.0
Total 52 13 14 25 025.0

Honours

Stoke City

Cardiff City

Wigan Athletic

Carlisle United

Individual

References

References

  1. Stoke City 101 Golden Greats. Desert Islands Books. 2002. ISBN 1-874287554.
  2. "Cardiff stun Leeds". BBC Sport. 6 January 2002. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  3. "Wigan complete Kavanagh signing". BBC Sport. 4 March 2005. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  4. "Leeds 0–3 Sunderland". BBC Sport. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  5. "Owls sign Kavanagh on loan deal". BBC Sport. 21 September 2007. Retrieved 21 September 2007.
  6. "Watford 2–1 Sheff Wed". BBC Sport. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 6 September 2009.
  7. "Leicester bid for Sunderland pair". BBC Sport. 29 December 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
  8. "Kavanagh eager to prove his worth". BBC Sport. 14 October 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  9. "Kavanagh extends Carlisle spell". BBC Sport. 7 November 2008. Retrieved 17 November 2008.
  10. "Carlisle agree Kavanagh extension". BBC Sport. 18 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008.
  11. "Kavanagh takes up Carlisle role" BBC Sport Retrieved on 9 January 2009
  12. "Carlisle United: Graham Kavanagh wants to be manager". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 September 2013.
  13. "Carlisle United: Graham Kavanagh named as Greg Abbott successor". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 September 2013.
  14. "CLUB: Official Statement". CUFC. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  15. "KAVANAGH BECOMES A BANTAM". www.bradfordcityafc.com. 1 February 2024. Retrieved 1 February 2024.
  16. Graham Kavanagh at the English National Football Archive (subscription required)
  17. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1992/1993". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  18. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1993/1994". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  19. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1994/1995". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  20. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1995/1996". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  21. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1996/1997". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  22. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1997/1998". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  23. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1998/1999". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  24. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 1999/2000". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  25. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2000/2001". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  26. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2001/2002". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  27. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2002/2003". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  28. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  29. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  30. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  31. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  33. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2009/2010". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. "Games played by Graham Kavanagh in 2010/2011". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. Kavanagh, Graham at National-Football-Teams.com
  37. "Graham Kavanagh". Soccerbase. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  38. Sidaway, Jon (7 December 2017). "Stoke City FC - Looking Back Down 'Wembley Way'". Stoke City FC. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  39. "Cardiff seal promotion". BBC Sport. 25 May 2003. Retrieved 22 May 2026.
  40. "Man Utd ease to Carling Cup glory". BBC Sport. 26 February 2006. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  41. Shemilt, Stephan (28 March 2010). "Carlisle United 1–4 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  42. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (1999). The 1999–2000 Official PFA Footballers Factfile. Harpenden: Queen Anne Press. p. 352. ISBN 978-1-85291-607-7.
  43. "Keane claims award double". BBC Sport. 30 April 2000. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  44. "Teams of the year". BBC Sport. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  45. "PFA teams send Hatters mad". The Guardian. 15 April 2002. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  46. David McKechnie (28 April 2003). "Henry lands PFA award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
External links