Kieron Lovelady: Adana Demirspor first-team coach on pathway to Turkish Super Lig

Lovelady’s coaching journey started young – his pathway began in his teens while he was still playing football.

From Scarisbrick, Lovelady began coaching at Southport Trinity having gradually become more interested in that side of the game rather than playing.

“At 15 or 16, coming to the end of school, I wasn’t playing for a high-profile academy, I knew my route was always going to be through coaching and hopefully one day being a manager in my own right as well,” he said.

“I’ve been quite fortunate. I took over the team that I always played for, then I went to Robbie Fowler’s football college as a student initially.

“In my second year there I took over Southport’s under-18 youth team. I instantly found opportunities for myself.

“While I was studying at the college, I took my badges and after I finished my course there, instead of going to university straight away, I was fortunate enough that they offered me a job. So I was in a position where I was living and breathing it.”

Opportunities with Rochdale and Preston North End followed before he landed at Manchester City, where he spent three years and travelled around Europe coaching in their youth setup.

“I’ve had some amazing experiences working in academy football,” Lovelady continued.

“The three seasons [I was] at Manchester City was an amazing experience in terms of everything that comes with being a coach – the facilities, the academy structure and the opportunity to go on tours abroad.”