Kenny Hibbitt
Encyclopedia
Kenny Hibbitt is an English former professional footballer who played in the Football League
for Bradford Park Avenue
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
, Coventry City and Bristol Rovers, and in the North American Football League for the Seattle Sounders
. He was capped
once for England at under-23 level. As a manager, he took charge of Walsall
, Cardiff City
and Hednesford Town. He is most known for his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he played from 1968 to 1984.
from his home town club Bradford Park Avenue
for £5,000 in November 1968. He finally made his club debut as a substitute in a 0-1 defeat to rivals West Bromwich Albion
on 12 April 1969, aged just 18. He did not feature again though until 12 September 1970, when he scored his first of many goals in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea
.
During his time at Molineux
, Hibbitt won 2 League Cups (1974
and 1980
, scoring in the 1974 final) and played in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final
, where the club lost narrowly to countrymen Tottenham Hotspur
. He also helped the club win two promotions back to the top flight.
He finally left Wolves in 1984, moving to Coventry City
on a free transfer. In total, he played 544 games for Wolves, scoring 114 goals.
His playing career came to an abrupt halt in February 1988, when he broke his leg playing for against Southend
. He remained with the club after this, as assistant to manager Gerry Francis
and helped the team win the (old) Division 3 title in 1990.
After this success, he was appointed manager of Walsall
, who he took to the Division 3 play-offs in 1993/94. He took over as manager of Cardiff City
from Eddie May
in the summer of 1995, but moved upstairs to a director of football role with the arrival of Phil Neal
the following year. However, Neal's time in charge was brief, departing after only a couple of months to become assistant to Steve Coppell
at Manchester City
. Hibbitt took over the team once again before handing the reins over to Russell Osman
. In February 1998, Osman was sacked and Hibbitt took over team affairs for the third time, before being replaced by Frank Burrows
. The arrival of Burrows saw Hibbitt's influence greatly diminished, and at the end of the 1997/98 season he left the club altogether.
He returned to management with non-league Hednesford Town
in September 2001, but despite rescuing the club from a poor start and preserving their place in their division, he was dismissed at the end of the season. He now works for the Premier League, reviewing the performances of the referees
.
His older brother Terry
was also a professional footballer.
As Assistant Manager with Bristol Rovers FC :-
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
for Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
, Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
, Coventry City and Bristol Rovers, and in the North American Football League for the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
. He was capped
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
once for England at under-23 level. As a manager, he took charge of Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, Cardiff City
Cardiff city
Cardiff City may refer to:* Cardiff city centre* Cardiff City Council* Cardiff City F.C.* Cardiff City L.F.C.* Cardiff City Stadium...
and Hednesford Town. He is most known for his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, for whom he played from 1968 to 1984.
Career
Hibbitt joined WolvesWolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
from his home town club Bradford Park Avenue
Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.
Bradford Association Football Club, previously also known as Bradford and since its reformation in the 1970s now referred to as Bradford Park Avenue, is a football club based in Bradford, West Yorkshire, England...
for £5,000 in November 1968. He finally made his club debut as a substitute in a 0-1 defeat to rivals West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion F.C.
West Bromwich Albion Football Club, also known as West Brom, The Baggies, The Throstles, Albion or WBA, are an English Premier League association football club based in West Bromwich in the West Midlands...
on 12 April 1969, aged just 18. He did not feature again though until 12 September 1970, when he scored his first of many goals in a 2-2 draw at Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
.
During his time at Molineux
Molineux stadium
Molineux Stadium is a Premier League football stadium situated in Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton, England. It has been the home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club since 1889, and has a long and illustrious history as the first 'new build' stadium in Football League history, one of the...
, Hibbitt won 2 League Cups (1974
1974 Football League Cup Final
The 1974 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1973–74 Football League Cup, the 14th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
and 1980
1980 Football League Cup Final
The 1980 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 1979–80 Football League Cup, the 20th season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in The Football League...
, scoring in the 1974 final) and played in the 1972 UEFA Cup Final
1972 UEFA Cup Final
The 1972 UEFA Cup Final was the final of the first ever UEFA Cup football tournament. It was a two-legged contest played on 3 May and 17 May 1972 between two English clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur....
, where the club lost narrowly to countrymen Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. He also helped the club win two promotions back to the top flight.
He finally left Wolves in 1984, moving to Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
on a free transfer. In total, he played 544 games for Wolves, scoring 114 goals.
His playing career came to an abrupt halt in February 1988, when he broke his leg playing for against Southend
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
. He remained with the club after this, as assistant to manager Gerry Francis
Gerry Francis
Gerald Charles James Francis is an English former footballer and manager, now working as First Team coach at Stoke City.-Playing career:Francis made his debut for Queens Park Rangers v Liverpool in March 1969...
and helped the team win the (old) Division 3 title in 1990.
After this success, he was appointed manager of Walsall
Walsall F.C.
Walsall Football Club are an English association football club based in Walsall, West Midlands. They currently play in League One. The club was founded in 1888 as Walsall Town Swifts, an amalgamation of Walsall Town F.C. and Walsall Swifts F.C. The club was one of the founder members of the Second...
, who he took to the Division 3 play-offs in 1993/94. He took over as manager of Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
from Eddie May
Eddie May
Edwin Charles May is an English former footballer and football manager.May was born in Epping.-Playing career:Eddie May joined Southend United from Dagenham in January 1965, making his league debut later that season. He went on to make 100 league appearances, scoring 3 times for the Shrimpers,...
in the summer of 1995, but moved upstairs to a director of football role with the arrival of Phil Neal
Phil Neal
Philip George "Phil" Neal is a former footballer who was, at one time, the most successful player in English football history. He played for Liverpool 650 times over an eleven year period and is the only player to have appeared in the first five of their European Cup finals, winning four of them...
the following year. However, Neal's time in charge was brief, departing after only a couple of months to become assistant to Steve Coppell
Steve Coppell
Stephen James "Steve" Coppell is an English former footballer and manager, currently without a club.As a player, he was a highly regarded right winger known for his speed and work rate. He won domestic honours with Manchester United and represented England at the World Cup...
at Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
. Hibbitt took over the team once again before handing the reins over to Russell Osman
Russell Osman
Russell Charles Osman is a retired England international footballer.-Playing career:Osman was born in Repton, Derbyshire, the son of Rex Osman who played a handful of games for Derby County in the early 1950s...
. In February 1998, Osman was sacked and Hibbitt took over team affairs for the third time, before being replaced by Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows
Frank Burrows is a Scottish soccer manager, and former player.-Biography:Frank Burrows began his football career at Scottish club Raith Rovers. In 1965 he moved south to England and joined Scunthorpe United. Impressive performances as a defender for Scunthorpe led to him being signed by Swindon...
. The arrival of Burrows saw Hibbitt's influence greatly diminished, and at the end of the 1997/98 season he left the club altogether.
He returned to management with non-league Hednesford Town
Hednesford Town F.C.
Hednesford Town Football Club are an association football team based in Hednesford, Staffordshire, England. They play at Keys Park.-History:...
in September 2001, but despite rescuing the club from a poor start and preserving their place in their division, he was dismissed at the end of the season. He now works for the Premier League, reviewing the performances of the referees
Select Group Referees
The Select Group is a panel of professional football referees appointed by the Professional Game Match Officials Board to officiate matches in the Premier League, as well as the Football League, FA Cup and Football League Cup...
.
His older brother Terry
Terry Hibbitt
Terence Arthur "Terry" Hibbitt was an English football player, who was on the books at Leeds United, Newcastle United and Birmingham City during his career. His position was midfielder...
was also a professional footballer.
Honours
With Wolverhampton Wanderers FC :-- Football League CupFootball League CupThe Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
: Winner 1974 & 1980 - UEFA CupUEFA CupThe UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
: Finalist 1972
As Assistant Manager with Bristol Rovers FC :-
- Football League Division Three: Champions 1989-90