Kilbane launches Macron Galway Cup 2013

Kevin Kilbane was in Galway on Tuesday to mark the launch of the newly-rebranded Macron Galway Cup. Formerly the Umbro Galway Cup, the prestigious under-age tournament is entering its ninth year and brings teams from across the world to Drom Soccer Park – the home of Salthill Devon. 

From an office overlooking the four pristine playing surfaces used for the competition, the former Ireland international spoke about the current state of the national side under Giovanni Trapattoni as well as his belief in the importance of developing young talent. 
 

Kilbane, who was capped 110 times for the Republic, believes a rough start to the current qualification campaign has left Ireland chasing a play-off berth in order to have any chance of reaching the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. As the effects of a Euro 2012 hangover still linger, many commentators have called for a change in approach for Irish football, starting at the grassroots level.

“It was a difficult Euro’s to watch and I think it was always going to be difficult for Giovanni Trapattoni coming back with the results that we had out there,” said Kilbane.

“The start we had against the Germans at the Aviva was poor. We’ve had bad results over the years but to lose so heavily at home against, you know…you consider Germany a rival. Germany are going to expect to go on and win the group without a doubt and we’re going to be the team that’s searching for that play-off spot and that second place.
 

To lose so heavily was a big blow early on, but I was really pleased by the way the team bounced back against the Faroes because it’s not easy to go [there]. We’re expected to go there and win which we should, and I’m not going to say anything different to that because we’ve got better players than the Faroes, but it’s a difficult place. And after that Germany result it was good to get back on track with three points; but there’s a long way to go. Going to Sweden, going to Austria and even going to Germany – they’ll be the three key games for us.”
 

On what can be done to invigorate the senior international set-up, the former Everton, Wigan and Hull left-back insists on the need for fresh faces and believes Giovanni Trapattoni needs to take a closer look at the young talent amongst the country’s under-age squads. 
 

“There are the young players there,” said Kilbane.  “We’ve had James McClean developing over the last 18 months/two years, we’ve had Seamus Coleman over the last two or three years developing over in England with Blackpool and with Everton. So we have got talented players there. 
 

I can understand it to an extent from Giovanni’s point of view; that he likes to stick with what he knows, he knows what he’s going to get out of the players. But there’s got to be a time when you integrate the younger players, certainly in the friendlies, so that when the big games come around [and you] put the young players in, they’ve had enough experience in the past to go in and do themselves justice.

I’m a firm believer that you should be getting players involved at the younger ages – maybe coming in for the training sessions and things like that. I’m not the manager and I’ve never been a manager so it’s difficult for me to say at times as well but I think maybe if [Trapattoni] was to watch a lot more games at youth level – under-18, under-21s – he’d see that there is a lot of talent there, there are a lot of good players coming through. We’ve got Robbie Brady now that’s just come up from the under-21s into the senior side and it can only be a good thing [to have] young players coming in to help the team as a whole.”
 

Kilbane has also called for more involvement from senior and ex-internationals, whose wealth of experience could prove invaluable to the next generation of Irish footballer. 
 

“It’s very, very important”, he stressed. “I’ve been a big believer that we should be getting more of the ex-senior internationals involved at youth level as well. I think it would be great for the youngsters to have real experienced pros [around] at various levels: under-21, under-18, under-16. Whether it would be coming in for one of the meetings or the get together that they have -  get senior internationals involved and it’ll give young players such a lift.
 

"I remember when I was in the under-21s and to have someone like Mick McCarthy, who was the senior manager, come in to the dressing room before the game – it meant a lot to me. I think that that is something which should be looked into more because we’ve got so many players now that have got their coaching badges but are not involved in the game in any capacity. I think that that’s a structure that needs to be in place.” 
 

The big news surrounding the Irish squad this week has been Shay Given’s desire to once again be considered for selection, having previously retired following the team’s Euro 2012 campaign. Given and Kilbane were both mainstays in the Irish side throughout the last decade and the Preston-born fan favourite is backing his former teammate’s decision. 
 

“I’m pleased,” said Kilbane. “I don’t think he should have retired to start with, if I’m being honest. I think he’s still a wonderful goalkeeper. I think he’s not in the [Aston] Villa side now for a number of reasons and it’s not from his ability to play. I think he’d like to be playing regular first-team football because that’s where he’s been for the majority of his career and he’s good enough to do that. 
 

He can go on for another three or four years without a doubt so I’m hoping that Shay, if he comes back into the squad, gets the welcome he deserves. And he’ll go on to show what a quality goalkeeper he is because he’s proved it over the years – he’s just not been able to prove it now at club level for non-footballing reasons. “
 

On his own future in the game, Kilbane is less certain. Management seems a likely option, though perhaps not just yet and, when asked, he would not rule out the possibility of his first job coming with a League of Ireland club. 
 

“At this moment in time I’m not looking to go in to management. I’m just looking to take a bit of time out but certainly I would rule nothing out in the future. I’ve got my coaching badges in place to coach to a certain level. I don’t have the necessary Pro Licence [to manage] but I can start that over this year, so I could be in place to take a management position over the next 6-8 months.
 

"Initially when I retired I wanted to take some time out, I wanted to just maybe recharge the batteries. I’m still trying to keep fit along the way but just for my own mindset [I needed] to take that bit of time away from the game. I’m still involved with a little bit of media work but I’m mindful that I’m not going through the day-to-day rigours and hopefully in the next few months I’ll be in a position to do that and if a coaching position comes up I’ll be able to take it. 
 

"We’ll see what happens over the next couple of months and see what comes up. If something comes up that appeals to me then I’ll go for it but, as of now, I’m just taking time to put my feet up really.”
 

After 110 international caps, those feet have earned their rest.