Nigel Keady (born 24 May 1979) is an is an Irish football coach and former player, he currently works as a Regional Manager for the FAI.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 24 May 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | Galway, Ireland | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Defender | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Galway Hibernians | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2006 | Galway United | 200 | (0) |
| 2007 | Limerick 37 | 20 | (0) |
| 2008 | Athlone Town | 28 | (0) |
| 2009 | Mervue United | 14 | (1) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2013–2014 | Galway WFC | ||
| 2017–2020 | Galway United U19s | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Keady played youth football with Galway Hibernians before starting his professional career with Galway United. He would spend six years with Galway United, going on to have spells with Limerick, Athlone Town and Mervue United.
Keady was the first ever manager of Galway WFC after they joined the Women's National League.
Playing career
editGalway United
editIn August 2000, Keady signed for League of Ireland Premier Division club Galway United ahead of the 2000–01 season.[1]
At the end of the 2001–02 season, Galway United were relegated as the league downsized from 12 to 10 teams.[2]
In the 2002–03 season, Galway United reached the play-offs. However, in the play-off final against Drogheda United after winning the first leg 2–0, Galway would lose the second leg 0–3 after extra-time.[3]
For the 2005 and 2006 seasons Keady captained Galway United.[1]
In Keady's final season with the club, Galway United were promoted back to the Premier Division after an FAI assessment group had deemed that Dundalk did not meet the criteria to be promoted, thus Galway United were promoted in their place.[4] Keady departed Galway United holding the record for the most appearances for the club without scoring a goal.[5]
Limerick 37
editKeady joined Limerick 37 after they had only just about received a license to participate in the 2007 League of Ireland First Division.[1][6]
Athlone Town
editKeady signed for Athlone Town ahead of the 2008 season.[7]
Mervue United
editOn 19 February 2009, Keady signed for newly promoted First Division side Mervue United.[8] On 17 October 2009, Keady scored his first goal for the club in a 1–2 defeat to UCD.[9]
Managerial career
editGalway WFC
editIn 2013, Galway WFC joined the Women's National League as an expansion team for the 2013–14 season.[10] Keady was announced as the club's manager ahead of their first ever league season as a club.[11] In his olnly season with the club he guided the team to a 6th-place finish, before going on to be replaced by his own former manager Don O'Riordan.[12]
Galway United U19s
editFrom 2015, Keady would go on to serve as assistant coach to Johnny Glynn with the Galway United under-19s.[13] On 24 January 2017, Keady was appointed as the manager of the Galway United U19s.[14] Keady would stay in the role for 4 season before departing at the start of 2021 to become a Regional Manager for the FAI.[15]
Career statistics
editManagerial career
edit| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||
 Galway WFC |
25 August 2013 | 26 April 2014 | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 38.10 |
| Total | 21 | 8 | 2 | 11 | 43 | 42 | +1 | 38.10 | ||
References
edit- 1 2 3 "Nigel Keady". extratime.com. Retrieved 20 August 2026.
- ↑ "Galway relegated following defeat to Shels". rte.ie. 14 June 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Drogs survive to fight another day". independent.ie. 14 February 2003. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Rovers and Galway promoted". irishtimes.com. 12 December 2006. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ @gufcarchive (May 24, 2023). "Nigel has played 200 times for United. He is the highest ranked player in terms of appearances never to have scored for the club" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ "Soccer Limerick given green light". rte.ie. 11 January 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "First Division Team News". rte.ie. 8 April 2008. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Mervue announce quartet of signings". extratime.com. 19 February 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "League of Ireland Division One Round-up". rte.ie. 17 October 2009. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Galway women come together to form new National League side". connachttribune.ie. 13 June 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Keady ready to lead Galway into WNL". extratime.com. 25 August 2013. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Galway WFC appoints former United manager O'Riordan". advertiser.ie. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Galway United and Dunne gearing up for new season". connachttribune.ie. 22 January 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ "Nigel Keady appointed Galway United under-19 Head Coach". galwaybayfm.ie. 24 January 2017. Retrieved 21 August 2026.
- ↑ @gufcacademy (January 9, 2021). "Nigel Keady leaves U19 management role for a new post in the FAI" (Tweet) – via Twitter.