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Brian Kerr, (born in Dublin, 5 March 1953) is an Irish football manager, most noted for managing the Republic of Ireland national side

Contents 1 Early days 2 St. Patrick's Athletic 3 Republic of Ireland Underage sides 4 Republic of Ireland Senior Side 5 Return to St. Patrick's Athletic 6 Managerial stats 7 External links

Kerr grew up in Drimnagh, a suburb in south west Dublin. He began playing football for noted schoolboy side Crumlin United along with future world champion athlete Eamonn Coghlan. He also boxed with Drimnagh Boxing Club as his father was a coach there. Kerr realised he did not possess enough talent to make it to the top as a footballer and at an early age decided to concentrate on coaching. At age 18, Kerr took his first coaching role when appointed to the Crumlin United under 13 side. He quickly set about gaining all relevant coaching badges and soon caught eye of Irish footballing legend Liam Touhy. Touhy appointed Kerr as his assistant in roles with Shamrock Rovers, Drogheda United and the Irish Youth side which reached the World Cup finals in 1985.

In December 1986 Kerr was appointed manager of League of Ireland side St Patrick's Athletic. Kerr told reporters that as a fan of St. Pats, this appointment was a "dream come true". Within 3 weeks Kerr had won his first senior trophy as St Pats won the Leinster Senior Cup. It was the Inchicore's side first trophy in a decade. Traditionally one of Ireland's poorer clubs Kerr immediately set about rebuilding the squad on a shoe string budget. He acquired several players from junior and schoolboy football (such as future international Curtis Fleming) and rescued others from reserve leagues, such as current St. Pats manager John McDonnell. St. Pats drew 1-1 with Dundalk F.C. in the last game of the 1987/88 season when a win would have seen St. Pats gain their first league title since 1956. In 1990, Kerr led St. Pats to that long cherished league championship.

As financial troubles hit St. Pats, Kerr was forced to off load his star players and all bar John Treacy left by 1993. In 1992 with the club facing liquidation, Kerr was among a group of investors (many of whom re-mortgaged their houses) who raised IR£82,000 which helped save the club from extinction. Once again Kerr was left the job of rebuilding a totally new squad and once again he showed he was more than capable as St. Pats won the league again 1996. In December 1996 he shocked St. Pats by quitting becoming technical director of the Football Association of Ireland. Kerr is still idolised by fans of St Patrick's Athletic and most commentators attribute the further success the club have had largely down to work started by Kerr.

As part of his technical director remit, Kerr was manager of republic of Ireland sides from U16 to u20 level. His first major tournament was the 1997 World Youth Championships . Kerr surprised many commentators by bringing 3 players from the League of Ireland but was proved correct when Republic of Ireland won bronze medals by finishing third. The undoubted star of the Irish team was Damien Duff.

The following year Kerr guided Republic of Ireland to an unprecedented double by winning both the Under 16 and Under 18 European Championships. No Irish team had ever won a major trophy before (and none have won since). A number of the players involved would go on to win full international caps, such as John O'Shea and Robbie Keane. In 1999 Republic of Ireland were knocked out of the World Youth Championships by hosts Nigeria on penalties in the quarter final. He again qualified Ireland for the 2003 World Youth Championships before taking up position of manager of the senior national side

After two defeats in the opening two qualifying games for Euro 2004, national manager Mick McCarthy resigned from his post. In February 2003, Kerr was appointed. This was welcomed by most sections of the media and fans alike. He was, however left a huge challenge, to achieve qualification. Following a draw at home to Russia, and a defeat in Switzerland Republic of Ireland finished 3rd, and were out of the competition.

In qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Kerr managed Ireland to only one defeat. However late goals conceded to Israel, at home and away, saw the Republic of Ireland finish in 4th place, in a very tight group. Thus for a second time Kerr's squad had failed to qualify. Kerr came in for heavy criticism from sections of the media, who saw his tactics as negative. Kerr himself felt that the media were being excessively intrusive and unhelpful, in his efforts to perform his job. Kerr now responded by refusing the entertain media questioning, concerning his decision making. As a result many journalists withdrew their support for Kerr, and became even more critical of his role, in the backdrop of a dramatic decline of the Irish soccer team in the FIFA world ranking. Other commentators pointed to a perceived lack of talent in the squad as being the most important factor, due to Kerr's successes in his previous managerial appointements. Kerr himself however continued to have full confidence in the players that he had available to him. He refused to ever blame his players, for any poor results, instead indicating that he was personally responsible.

In October 2005 Kerr's contract was not renewed by the FAI, bowing to perceived media pressure. Kerr was personally disappointed. He was replaced by Steve Staunton. In 2006 Kerr became a director of Sport against Racism Ireland (SARI). Kerr occasionally makes contributions on radio as a soccer pundit.

On 13 March, 2007, it was announced that Brian Kerr would return to St. Patrick's Athletic as director of football on a three-year contract.

Team	Nat	From	To	Record
				G	W	L	D	Win %
Republic of Ireland		January 27, 2003	October 18, 2005	33	18	4	11	54.54

• Brian Kerr management career stats at Soccerbase
• Kerr Profile from rte.ie

Preceded by Jimmy Jackson	St Patrick's Athletic manager 1986-1996	Succeeded by Pat Dolan
Preceded by Mick McCarthy	Republic of Ireland national team manager 2003–2005	Succeeded by Steve Staunton