Kenny Cunningham

Cunningham started his professional career at Pérez Zeledón and played for Carmelita, Alajuelense and Herediano before signing up with San Carlos in September 2009. He moved abroad to join Japanese second division side Gainare Tottori in February 2012 but missed a large part of the season due to a rare disease. In January 2013 he moved to Bolivia to play for The Strongest.

Wellington Phoenix

On 26 July 2013, Cunningham signed a two-year contract with New Zealand A-League club Wellington Phoenix. It was said that fellow Costa Rican and Wellington player Carlos Hernandez first recommended him to Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick. In the 2013–14 season, Cunningham scored 7 goals in 23 appearances, the same number as fellow Phoenix and Costa Rica teammate Carlos Hernández. His long-range goal in a 5–0 home victory over the Melbourne Victory was named goal of the year for the Phoenix in 2013–14.

Cunningham made his international debut for Costa Rica in an international friendly against Cuba on 12 December 2011. He was a 69th-minute substitute and helped secure a 1–1 draw with a 90th-minute equaliser. Cunningham made his full debut later that month, playing 90 minutes in a 2–0 away victory against Venezuela. As of May 2014, he earned 13 caps, scoring one goal. He represented his country in 2 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played at the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup but was left out of the 2014 World Cup squad.

International goals

Scores and results list Costa Rica's goal tally first.

Cunningham was born in Dublin. He attended St. Vincent's C.B.S. primary and secondary school in the Glasnevin district. At school, he played more Gaelic football than soccer: he played for St Vincent's at Croke Park alongside future Gaelic star Dessie Farrell in a schools' final, and played for Na Fianna and the Dublin minor team. At association football, he played for the Home Farm club from under-9s to under-17s, before moving on to amateur club Tolka Rovers.

Millwall

On 18 September 1989, the 18-year-old Cunningham signed a one-year contract with Millwall of the English First Division. His expectations, to play out the season in England and use the experience to earn himself a good contract back in Ireland, changed when, three months before the end of that "trial" season, Millwall offered him a further two-year contract. He made his Football League debut on 17 March 1990, at right back in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw away to Norwich City, and started four more first-team games during that season. In five years with the club, he made 136 league appearances. scoring his only career goal at Portsmouth in April 1994.

Wimbledon

Cunningham and teammate Jon Goodman moved to Wimbledon in November 1994, for the joint fee of £1,300,000. Cunningham played 250 league games for Wimbledon and twice named as the London side's Player of the Season. In February 2000, Cunningham was involved in an incident with Chelsea captain Dennis Wise following their match. Cunningham admitted improper behaviour in response to severe provocation from Wise and was fined £5,000 by The Football Association. Wise was charged with misconduct for the alleged confrontation in the tunnel and fined £7,500 and Chelsea and Wimbledon were both fined £50,000 each for failing to control their players.

Birmingham City

Cunningham moved to Birmingham City, newly promoted to the Premier League, in 2002 for a £600,000 fee. He went straight into…

Cunningham won a total of 72 caps for the Republic of Ireland national football team. He made his debut on 24 April 1996 in 2–0 friendly loss to the Czech Republic in Prague. He was named as FAI Senior International Player of the Year in 1998. In March 2001, he returned after a long layoff due to injury, replacing Richard Dunne to partner Gary Breen in defence for a match against Cyprus. Cunningham was named team captain after the 2002 FIFA World Cup. According to manager Mick McCarthy: "Kenny's qualities as a player are easy to see. From day one he has been a great influence. He is a talker on the pitch, he organises the players around him, and off the pitch he is a calm influence. He retired from international football after achieving 72 caps at the age of 34 on 12 October 2005, following Ireland's draw with Switzerland at Lansdowne Road, which resulted in his team's failure to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Cunningham urged caution following a FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch their international allegiance. Commenting in relation to Ireland's qualifying campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, he said: "It wouldn't be something I'd be hugely in favour of" and "I'd be very disappointed if I was a player in that squad to miss out on the World Cup for somebody who was jumping on board at the last minute".

His twin brother Kevin is also a professional footballer, they played together at Carmelita. Kenny and Kevin are related to Australian Rory Cunningham.

Individual

CONCACAF League Team of the Tournament: 2017

Sunderland

Football League Championship: 2006–07 Individual

FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 1998 Wimbledon Player of the Season: 1999–2000, 2001–02