Long-time goalkeeping coach Alan Kelly, whose Everton departure was confirmed this week, made a candid revelation regarding Jordan Pickford. Alan Kelly has been in sport for over a thousand games and has seen it everything, but even the long-serving Everton goalkeeping coach admits that Jordan Pickford’s treatment is on another level. Kelly, who turned 56 this week, has left Everton after seven years with the club. The former Republic of Ireland international had knee surgery last summer, and Scouser Billy Mercer, a former Liverpool junior team player who had worked with current Blues manager Sean Dyche as goalkeeping coach at Burnley, took his position, firstly on a temporary basis.
Kelly stated after his departure, “I am proud to have served Everton as a goalkeeping coach since 2017.” I’ve worked with outstanding goalkeepers from the academy to the first squad and appreciate their positive attitude, hard work, and trust.I adored every minute on the training pitch with you, and that friendship will last a lifetime. I’d like to wish the players, fans, and club the best of luck in the future.
Director of football Kevin Thelwell expressed the Blues’ appreciation for Kelly’s service, saying: “We would like to record our sincere thanks and appreciation to Alan for his significant contribution to Everton.” Alan is a well-liked and trusted member of the Everton family, and he leaves with our best wishes, knowing that he will always be welcome back to the club.”
Kelly joined Everton’s staff in the same season that Pickford, who returned to the side against Roma last Saturday after playing at the European Championships, arrived from Sunderland, and shortly before undergoing surgery, he told the ECHO: “I’ve never seen anyone deal with as much scrutiny as he does. Over the five years I’ve worked with him, he’s earned all of his England caps while at Everton, and I’ve seen him progress from a young goalkeeper entering a big club and making his mark, bonding with the supporters, to England’s number one.
“I’ve seen those stages with him, establishing himself as first choice with Everton and then England, and when you’re at the top, the hard work with training and preparation has to be at the highest level because when you get to the top, everyone is trying to knock you off that pedestal, making it even more difficult when you achieve that status. I think Jordan’s approach to this, as well as how he interacts inside our group, is terrific.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re England’s number one or a keeper from the Under-21s, we have the same ethos and work ethic that we’re one and the same.” Although Kelly spent the majority of his own playing career at his local side Preston North End – his namesake goalkeeping father turned out a record 513 teams for the Lancashire club – Sheffield United and Blackburn Rovers, his association with Everton actually goes back to the 1980s, when Alan Kelly senior was the Blues’ goalkeeping coach, putting the legendary Neville Southall through his paces, having been taken in a youth tournament in the city of Viterbo situated in Kelly informed the ECHO:
“Everton were looking for a goalkeeper, and my father said, ‘You did well in that game; would you like to play for them?'” I agreed and said, “I’ll try it.”I played three games during my holidays before starting in September. I believe it was AC Milan, Sampdoria, and then a local side.”
