Rob Kelly

Playing career

Kelly began his career at Leicester City, making his debut as a 19-year-old in a home game against Sunderland at the end of the 1983/84 season. He also had a brief loan spell at Tranmere Rovers. After making 18 starts for the Foxes (plus nine substitute appearances) and scoring one goal, he joined Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1986. Before joining Burton Albion.

International career

As a youngster, he also received a call up to represent the Republic of Ireland at youth level.

Coaching career

In 1989, Kelly was forced to retire aged just 24 after sustaining a back injury, and initially took the job of youth team coach at Wolverhampton Wanderers. He then trained as a journalist at the Wolverhampton Express & Star, before returning to football again, first back in the Wolverhampton Wanderers coaching set-up.

Then moving to Watford as youth team coach, Blackburn Rovers as Academy Director, and then Leicester City.

Leicester City Manager

After the sacking of Leicester manager Craig Levein, following 18 months in charge, Kelly stepped up from his Assistant Manager role to take control on a caretaker basis.

In his first ten games in charge his team took 21 points from a possible 30, steering the side up the Championship table and away from the threat of relegation to League One. He was awarded the Championship Manager of the Month award for March 2006. This followed wins over relegation rivals Hull City and Millwall, as well as victory against Luton Town and a creditable draw against Premiership-bound Reading. In recognition of his achievements, on 14 April 2006 he signed a one-year rolling contract, confirming his status as manager.

On 11 April 2007 Kelly was sacked due to a poor run of results, his final game being a 3–0 defeat away to Plymouth Argyle. He was replaced by Nigel Worthington until the end of the season.

Preston North End

In May 2007 he joined Preston North End as part of the club's coaching staff. On 13 November 2007 he stepped up from his position as Assistant Manager to become Caretaker Manager, after the sacking of manager Paul Simpson. Kelly spent just a week in the temporary position, and didn't oversee any first team action, as Alan Irvine was appointed as the Club's new manager on 20 November 2007, with Kelly reverting to his role as assistant.

Kelly again acted as Caretaker Manager following the departure of Alan Irvine in December 2009, a 7–0 FA Cup win over Colchester being his only game in charge. He left the club following the appointment of Darren Ferguson as manager.

Sheffield Wednesday

Kelly re-united with Alan Irvine at Sheffield Wednesday, once more as Assistant Manager. In February 2011, Kelly was appointed Caretaker Manager at Wednesday following the departure of Irvine, but left the club after Gary Megson was appointed as manager and made changes to the coaching staff.

Nottingham Forest

Kelly joined Nottingham Forest as assistant manager to Steve McClaren's backroom team in the summer of 2011, with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink the clubs First Team Coach, Kelly found himself become Caretaker Manager again in less than three months when McClaren resigned on 2 October after a dispute with the club's board. Steve Cotterill was appointed the club's new manager on 14 October, though Kelly remained in caretaker charge of the team until the following day, when he managed the team to a defeat by Coventry City. Following that match, Kelly reverted to being the club's assistant manager.

He was placed 'temporarily in charge of first team affairs' during the pre season of the 2012/13 campaign after the sacking of Steve Cotterill by the club's new owners. However, following the appointment of Sean O'Driscoll, Kelly again reverted to the role of assistant manager.

He remained assistant manager when O'Driscoll was in turn sacked in December 2012 and replaced by Alex McLeish, only to find himself as caretaker manager yet again just six weeks later when McLeish resigned. Billy Davies was announced as the club's new manager on 7 February, though it was also announced that Kelly would remain in charge of the club for the following match against Bristol City, who coincidentally were now managed by O'Driscoll. Like his previous caretaker spell, the sole match that he was in charge for ended in defeat.

West Brom

During the summer of 2014, Alan Irvine was appointed the Manager of West Brom, again hiring Kelly as his Assistant Manager. On 29 December 2014, Kelly took over as caretaker manager of West Bromwich Albion after Irvine's dismissal. Kelly's only game in charge was a 1–1 away draw against West Ham United on 1 January 2015, following the appointment of Tony Pulis as head coach. In Pulis' first game in charge on 3 January 2015, West Brom recorded a 7-0 victory against Gateshead F.C. in the FA Cup.

On 5 January, Kelly, Dean Kiely and Keith Downing all departed the club, with Pulis wanting to reshape his own backroom team.

Leeds United

On 3 June 2015, he was appointed as Assistant Head Coach to Uwe Rosler at Leeds United.