Kevin Poole

Aston Villa

Poole was born in Bromsgrove, Worcestershire. His first club was Aston Villa, whom he initially joined as an apprentice, turning professional in 1981. He was Villa's third choice keeper behind Jimmy Rimmer and Nigel Spink when they won the European Cup in 1982. He made his debut in the Football League while on loan at Northampton Town in late 1984, and played the first of his 32 games for Villa later in the 1984–85 season.

Middlesbrough

Poole moved to Middlesbrough, newly promoted back to the Second Division, in 1987, and played 42 first-team games in four seasons with the club. He was a member of the squad that helped Boro reach the 1990 Full Members' Cup Final, but Stephen Pears was preferred in goal at Wembley as they lost to Chelsea. He spent the last part of 1990–91 on loan at Hartlepool United, where he started their last 12 games of the season, keeping five clean sheets and never being on the losing side, to clinch promotion from the Fourth Division.

Leicester City

In 1991, Poole signed for Leicester City and went on to make 194 appearances in all competitions for the club between 1991 and 1997. He was part of the Leicester side that won promotion to the Premier League in 1994 and again in 1996, but subsequently lost his position to Kasey Keller.

Birmingham City

Poole moved to Birmingham City in August 1997, achieving a regular place thanks to an injury to Ian Bennett in September 1998. Bennett, who had regained his…

Poole and Gary Rowett were put in temporary charge of Burton following Paul Peschisolido's sacking on 17 March 2012. He reverted to a goalkeeping coach role when Rowett was appointed as permanent manager. When Rowett was appointed Birmingham City manager in October 2014, Poole accompanied him as goalkeeping coach. Rowett and his staff, Poole included, were sacked in December 2016. Rowett was appointed Derby County manager on 14 March 2017, with Poole again joining him as goalkeeping coach. When Rowett moved on to Stoke City, Poole remained at Derby until July 2018 when new manager Frank Lampard brought in Shay Given as goalkeeping coach. In late November, he was appointed goalkeeping coach at National League club Kidderminster Harriers. He joined Solihull Moors in September 2020 as a goalkeeping coach.

Leicester City

Football League First Division play-offs: 1994, 1996 Football League Cup: 1996–97 Birmingham City

Football League Cup runner-up: 2000–01 Bolton Wanderers

Football League Cup runner-up: 2003–04 Burton Albion

Conference Premier: 2008–09