Kevin Russell (footballer)

Kevin John Russell (born 6 December 1966) is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker for Brighton & Hove Albion, Portsmouth, Wrexham, Leicester City, Peterborough United, Cardiff City, Hereford United, Stoke City, Burnley, AFC Bournemouth and Notts County. He was most recently assistant manager at League One side Cheltenham Town, where he also had a spell as caretaker manager when Wade Elliott was sacked.

Playing career
Kevin Russell was a professional footballer and former England Youth international. During a career spanning twenty years he played for eleven clubs. Due to his quiff hairstyle Russell was nicknamed "Rooster" early on in his career; ironically he would lose all his hair in his youth and was bald for much of his playing days. Released by Brighton after an apprenticeship Russell returned to his hometown club Portsmouth but appearances were limited He then moved on to Wrexham during the 1987 close season. In the first of his two spells with the club he scored at a rate of just over a goal every two games. In 1989, he joined Leicester City, but was loaned out four times. However, he fought his way into the first team at the end of the 1991–92 season and became a cult-hero, scoring several important late goals after coming off the bench as he helped fire Leicester to the play-off final, eventually losing to Blackburn Rovers. Despite this, he went to Stoke City at the end of the season. While at Stoke he became a key member of the first team as Stoke won the Second Division title in 1992–93.

After one season at Stoke City, he moved onto Burnley for a fee of £130,000. Short spells with AFC Bournemouth and Notts County followed before a move back to the Racecourse Ground. Here, at last, Russell found a permanent home – he was to play nearly 200 more league games for The Robins in a deeper role, eventually being rewarded with a testimonial against Manchester United. In his second spell at Wrexham, he was best remembered for his winning goal against West Ham in an FA Cup third round replay in the 1996–97 season. With the tie goalless, Russell scored a 90th-minute goal to dump West Ham out of the cup at Upton Park.

Coaching career
He remained at Wrexham as a coach until being sacked in January 2007. On 12 January 2011, he agreed to rejoin Peterborough United, with Darren Ferguson for a second spell. On 18 August 2014, it was confirmed that he rejoined Stoke City as a coach for the Under 21 and Under 18 sides. He was promoted to Stoke City U23s manager for the 2018–19 season. He left his role with Stoke's under-21s in May 2023.

Russell joined Cheltenham Town as assistant manager to Wade Elliott in July 2023. Elliott was sacked in September 2023 and Russell took temporary charge until superseded by Darrell Clarke with effect from 2 October 2023. Eight days later his departure from the club by mutual consent was announced.

Career statistics
Source:


 * A. The "Other" column constitutes appearances and goals in the Football League Trophy, Football League play-offs and Full Members Cup.

Honours

 * Stoke City
 * Football League Second Division: 1992–93


 * Burnley
 * Football League Second Division play-offs: 1994

Individual
 * PFA Team of the Year: 1988–89 Fourth Division