Kevin KilbanePhoto illustration Globe and Mail. Source photo Ian West/PA Images/Reuters
Even though he was part of TSN’s Copa America panel Thursday night in Atlanta instead of out on the pitch, Kevin Kilbane could certainly empathize with how the Canadian players were feeling. Or should that be sympathize?
After all, going up against arguably the greatest player in the history of a particular sport is never easy. True to form, Lionel Messi left his fingerprints all over the tournament opener against Canada, eventually setting up the second goal to lead defending champion Argentina to a 2-0 victory.
Shortly before his retirement as a professional footballer in 2012, Kilbane had his own experience of being put through the Messi wringer during a friendly to mark the opening of Dublin’s Aviva Stadium. The Ireland international, who had only just converted to left back from left wing, helped keep Messi off the scoresheet that day, even though Argentina emerged with a narrow 1-0 victory.
“When I went to fullback, I was probably a little bit within myself. I probably was a little bit more intimidated, because it wasn’t my natural position,” Kilbane says now. “So, Messi, I felt that at any moment, he could have torn me to shreds.
“You can never really switch off at any time until that referee blows that final whistle. … But that is what Messi brings. You feel as though you’ve got him. You feel as though everything’s fine, and there are no issues at all. And then the game changes in an instant, because he’s that good. … He is a genius in that respect.“
When and where were you happiest in your life?
Certainly, in my personal life, I don’t think you can get any better than what it is now with my wife and children. I’m so settled and happy here in Canada that I don’t think I could be any happier. But I think from a professional point of view, growing up all I wanted to do was play for Ireland. Once I got the opportunity to play for Ireland at under-21 level initially, and then got into the senior side, it was never lost on me. Probably the World Cup would have to be the pinnacle of any player’s career. I played every minute in Japan and Korea [in 2002]. So, I think that’s what fills me with the most pride, absolutely, playing a World Cup professionally.
What’s your most treasured possession?
I think it’s the little possessions like things that have been given to me by my wife when I first met her. I wear a chain that she bought me. And something that my dad would have left me, a small clock. My father came from County Mayo in Ireland, and it’s a map of the county where we’re from, because it always brings back a certain memory of my father. So, it’s little things like that. I’m not really one for material things if truth be known.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
I’m very much an extremely proud Irishman, probably too proud at times. The figure who I would probably most identify with is somebody who was part of the Easter Rising in 1916 in Ireland, James Connolly. He was born in Scotland. He’s probably my favourite political figure across the course of history for what he means to my country, for his values, his political views and many other different aspects, probably because he was born away from Ireland. But he was certainly someone who was fighting for Irish freedom at that time. So it’s something I believe strongly in.
Do you have any favourite authors?
It’s another Connolly believe it or not, but it’s an Irish author, a crime writer called John Connolly. I got to meet him a couple of times over the years. He’s quite big in the U.S. actually – his novels sell quite well over there.
You’ve been a professional footballer, you’re now a broadcaster with TSN and you write columns for newspapers back in Ireland. What’s your favourite occupation?
Well, nothing beats playing. I do probably miss match days in terms of playing for Ireland, but when I was getting towards the back end of my career, I was struggling with a lot of injuries. I had to have major surgery on my back. As much as I did love playing, I don’t miss maybe the Saturday at 3 o’clock in England playing. The Premier League was incredible to be part of, to play in and things like that. But I don’t miss it like I thought I would do when I came to the end. I do miss the training, the competitiveness every single day.
As an on-air analyst, which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Great is overused in sport because, let’s be honest, it takes something very special to be great, or do something great. You know, a goalkeeper makes a save [and commentators say] ‘that’s a great save,’ and it’s not a great save, it’s just an average save or a good save. Probably the word great is way overused in our sport especially, and probably sport in general.
What talent would you most like to have?
Seeing my wife [Brianne Delcourt] skate, I’d love to be able to skate well. Maybe as crazy as that is, I fully realized being able to stand up on the ice is a skill in itself. Being able to play hockey the way that they play, skating at full tilt and the skill involved, I really appreciate it. My wife in her youth was on the national team, skating as a figure skater. She was a professional skater for over 20 years before we met. She is so talented, it’s actually quite scary when you watch me as a footballer trying to make out that I had some sort of talent. Seeing real talent is incredible. I would love to have been a great skater.
As a figure skater or as a hockey player?
Figure skating, because I wouldn’t like to have concussions, and I wouldn’t like to be getting thrown into the boards all the time. Yeah, I’m probably a soft soccer player.
What’s your greatest regret?
I love my career. I played over 700 games, club and country, and over 300 of those were in the Premier League, over 100 of those were playing for my country, so I can’t really have too many complaints. But, in my heart, I don’t think I fulfilled my potential. I think I was inhibited as a youngster, and I think that probably is something that held me back, and it’s probably anyone when you get to a certain age. If I could go back in time and be the person I am now mentally, everything would change, no matter what you do in life.