Former Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has made the surprise decision to join Liverpool Ladies in a move which will see him become the club’s goalkeeping coach according to The Reds’ official website.
The 37-year-old Barwell-born stopper hung up his boots in summer 2016 at the end of a playing career which saw him make 322 senior appearances for club and country.
Kirkland spent five years of his career with Liverpool where he made 45 appearances for the club after joining the club from Coventry City in what was then a British transfer record for a goalkeeper at £6 million. Kirkland’s daughter is now in the centre of excellence at Liverpool Ladies and it has been revealed that her father will return to the club to become a goalkeeping coach for the senior side.
After coming through the academy system at Coventry City, Kirkland went on to grab the number one jersey during The Sky Blues’ latter days in the English Premier League. His big money move to Liverpool followed before he was sent out on loan to West Bromwich Albion.
Some of the best days of Kirkland’s career came at his next club, Wigan Athletic. The player had previously won a Players’ Player of the Year accolade at former club Coventry City in 2000/2001 and he followed up that award by winning the Wigan Athletic equivalent at the end of the 2007/2008 campaign.
Kirkland made 134 appearances for The Latics before ending his spell at the DW Stadium out on loan at both Leicester City and Doncaster Rovers.
In summer 2012, the keeper joined Sheffield Wednesday where he was to become a regular for the club before ending his career with a short spell at Preston North End.
Kirkland did opt to join Bury in summer 2016 but the player performed a U-turn and has since coached at Port Vale as well as setting up the Chris Kirkland Goalkeeping Academy.
