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{{Short description|Irish former footballer (born 1971)}}
{{About|the Irish footballer|the Costa Rican footballer|Kenny Cunningham (footballer, born 1985)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=December 2012}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name           = Kenny Cunningham
| image          = KennyCunningham cropped.jpg
| image_size     = 200
| caption        = Warming up for Birmingham, April 2005
| fullname       = Kenneth Edward Cunningham<ref name=HugmanSite/>
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1971|6|28|df=y}}<ref name=HugmanSite/>
| birth_place    = [[Dublin]], Republic of Ireland
| currentclub    =
| height         = {{height|ft=6|in=0}}<ref name="Hugman2003-04">{{Cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2003/2004 |year=2003 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=1-85291-651-6 |page=102}}</ref>
| position       = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| youthyears1    = – | youthclubs1  = [[Home Farm F.C.|Home Farm]]
| years1  = 1988–1989 | clubs1  = [[Tolka Rovers F.C.|Tolka Rovers]]       | caps1  =     | goals1  =
| years2  = 1989–1994 | clubs2  = [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]               | caps2  = 136 | goals2  = 1
| years3  = 1994–2002 | clubs3  = [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]             | caps3  = 250 | goals3  = 0
| years4  = 2002–2006 | clubs4  = [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] | caps4  = 134 | goals4  = 0
| years5  = 2006–2007 | clubs5  = [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]         | caps5  = 11  | goals5  = 0
| totalcaps      = 531 | totalgoals  = 1
| nationalyears1 = 1994      | nationalteam1  = [[Republic of Ireland B national football team|Republic of Ireland B]]
| nationalcaps1  = 1  | nationalgoals1  = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1996–2005 | nationalteam2  = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| nationalcaps2  = 72 | nationalgoals2  = 0
}}
'''Kenneth Edward Cunningham''' (born 28 June 1971) is an Irish former [[Association football|footballer]] who played as a [[Defender (association football)|defender]]. He played international football for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] until his retirement in 2005. He spent his professional club career, from 1989 to 2007, in England, making more than 500 appearances in [[the Football League]] and [[Premier League]] playing for [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]], [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].

After retirement as a professional player, he worked as a pundit for [[RTÉ Sport]], and successfully completed the [[UEFA Pro Licence]] coaching qualification in 2011.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://garethmaher.com/2013/09/28/licence-to-nil-uefa-qualification-no-guarantee/ |title=Gill: I worked hard and got licence to nil – UEFA qualification no guarantee |first=Gareth |last=Maher |newspaper=Daily Mirror |location=Ireland |date=27 September 2013 |access-date=29 September 2014 |via=GarethMaher.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140929163628/http://garethmaher.com/2013/09/28/licence-to-nil-uefa-qualification-no-guarantee/ |archive-date=29 September 2014}}</ref>

==Early life and career==
Cunningham was born in [[Dublin]]. He attended [[St. Vincent's C.B.S.]] primary and secondary school in the [[Glasnevin]] district. At school, he played more [[Gaelic football]] than soccer: he played for St Vincent's at [[Croke Park]] alongside future Gaelic star [[Dessie Farrell]] in a schools' final, and played for [[Na Fianna GAA|Na Fianna]] and the Dublin minor team.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.fais.ie/activities/fai-programmes/college-and-universities/news-items/ |title=Schools soccer strikes back |first=Gráinne |last=Faller |newspaper=The Irish Times|date=13 May 2008 |access-date=17 July 2010 |via=FAI Schools |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721123844/http://www.fais.ie/activities/fai-programmes/college-and-universities/news-items/ |archive-date=21 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DSM1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=13917EF1AF790F98&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Football: Croke Park? No problem! I've won there before.. as a left corner-forward |first=Garry |last=Doyle |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=21 April 2005 |access-date=14 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/dessie-farrell-dublin-manager-2-5305358-Dec2020/|title=Dessie Farrell: the making of a Dublin manager|publisher=[[The42.ie]]|date=19 December 2020|quote=What took you by surprise was the sight of the other fella, the third player from the left in the back row: Kenny Cunningham, Ireland soccer captain 2003-05, a Dublin minor alongside Farrell in 1989, his teammate, classmate, friend.}}</ref> At association football, he played for the [[Home Farm F.C.|Home Farm]] club from under-9s to under-17s, before moving on to [[amateur]] club [[Tolka Rovers F.C.|Tolka Rovers]].<ref name="Captain Cunningham">{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/captain-cunningham-291771.html |title=Captain Cunningham |first=Philip |last=Quinn |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=5 September 2002 |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Millwall===
On 18 September 1989, the 18-year-old Cunningham signed a one-year contract with [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] of the English [[Football League First Division|First Division]]. His expectations, to play out the season in England and use the experience to earn himself a good contract back in Ireland, changed when, three months before the end of that "trial" season, Millwall offered him a further two-year contract.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:LSTB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=10035EBEBAC58702&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Cunningham rises to task |first=John |last=O'Brien |newspaper=The Sunday Times |location=London |date=23 March 2003 |access-date=14 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> He made his Football League debut on 17 March 1990, at [[defender (association football)|right back]] in the starting eleven in a 1–1 draw away to [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]], and started four more first-team games during that season.<ref name=MillwallHistory>{{cite web |url=http://www.millwall-history.co.uk/KennyCunningham.htm |title=Kenny Cunningham |website=The Millwall History Files |publisher=Gary Miles |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.millwall-history.org.uk/Millwall-Stats8990-2.htm |title=Statistics 1989/90 |website=The Millwall History Files |publisher=Gary Miles |access-date=14 May 2012}}</ref> In five years with the club, he made 136 league appearances.<ref name=HugmanSite>{{Hugman|4508|access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> scoring his only career goal at Portsmouth in April 1994.

===Wimbledon===
Cunningham and teammate [[Jon Goodman]] moved to [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] in November 1994, for the joint fee of £1,300,000.<ref name=MillwallHistory/> Cunningham played 250 league games for Wimbledon and twice named as the London side's Player of the Season.<ref name=HugmanSite/><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BBC SPORT {{!}} WORLD CUP {{!}} Squad {{!}} Kenny Cunningham |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/low/team_pages/rep_of_ireland/squad/newsid_1944000/1944268.stm |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=news.bbc.co.uk}}</ref> In February 2000, Cunningham was involved in an incident with [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] captain [[Dennis Wise]] following their match. Cunningham admitted improper behaviour in response to severe provocation from Wise and was fined £5,000 by [[The Football Association]]. Wise was charged with misconduct for the alleged confrontation in the tunnel and fined £7,500 and Chelsea and Wimbledon were both fined £50,000 each for failing to control their players.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/640501.stm |title=Blues close the gap |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 February 2000 |access-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=11 May 2000|title=Dons fined £50,000 for brawl|last=Thorpe|first=Martin|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/may/11/newsstory.sport|access-date=29 August 2021}}</ref>

===Birmingham City===
Cunningham moved to [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]], newly promoted to the [[Premier League]], in 2002 for a £600,000 fee.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F4E16260E9625DD&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Blues' swoop just what surprised Cunningham was wanting |first=Hyder |last=Jawad |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=17 July 2002 |access-date=14 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> He went straight into the starting eleven, playing at [[defender (association football)#Centre back|centre back]] in place of injured captain [[Steve Vickers (footballer)|Steve Vickers]] rather than his customary right back.<ref name="Captain Cunningham"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/2196597.stm |title=Arsenal ease past Birmingham |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 August 2002 |access-date=18 July 2010}}</ref> He formed a fine defensive partnership with [[Matthew Upson]], who joined in the January transfer window,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/local-news/colin-tattum-picks-birmingham-city-3936677 |title=Colin Tattum picks his Birmingham City team of the decade |first=Colin |last=Tattum |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=31 December 2009 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> and at the end of that campaign, his teammates chose him as their Player of the Season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~381742,00.html |title=Sav honoured with top award |publisher=Birmingham City F.C. |date=9 May 2003 |access-date=17 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120330000027/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~381742,00.html |archive-date=30 March 2012}}</ref>

After the first few matches of 2003–04, Birmingham's manager [[Steve Bruce]] was describing Cunningham as "on current form&nbsp;... the best defender in the Premiership".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:DSM1&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=13921B7947B1CD88&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Bruce's boys mean business |first=Ralph |last=Ellis |newspaper=Sunday Mirror |location=London |date=28 September 2003 |access-date=14 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> Nicknamed "King Kenny" by the fans,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.joysandsorrows.co.uk/2010/05/player-of-the-decade/ |title=Player of the Decade |website=Joys and Sorrows |date=19 May 2010 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> Cunningham had a reputation as an organised solid defender,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/09/04/s_text.htm |title=Breen and Cunningham look like becoming durable duo |first=Bill |last=George |newspaper=Irish Examiner |date=4 September 1999 |access-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712114643/http://archives.tcm.ie/irishexaminer/1999/09/04/s_text.htm |archive-date=12 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BPOC&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0F9C7B37202C09DC&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Blues building for long-term Premiership future |first=Hyder |last=Jawad |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=1 March 2003 |access-date=15 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref> and [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and Ireland full-back [[Denis Irwin]] suggested in November 2003 that, though his ability had been under-rated in the past, "this year&nbsp;... people are realising how good he actually is".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSMB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=0FE9F36864FB6325&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=Cunningham's Top Man For Veteran Irwin |first=Lee |last=McLaughlan |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |date=2 November 2003 |access-date=14 May 2012 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

After the club's relegation at the end of the [[2005–06 Premier League]] season, Cunningham and seven other first team players were released. On 11 May 2006, Cunningham launched a scathing attack in the press on Bruce and the board, blaming the club's relegation on a lack of preparation throughout the season and likening the club to a "stiff corpse" that has "no heartbeat and, more worryingly, no soul".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/tm_objectid=17062448&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=the-real-failings-at-blues-name_page.html |title=The real failings at Blues |first=Ian |last=Clarkson |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=11 May 2006 |access-date=18 July 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203134456/http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/tm_objectid%3D17062448%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50002%26headline%3Dthe-real-failings-at-blues-name_page.html |archive-date=3 December 2011 }}</ref> While fans were in the main supportive of Cunningham's views,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/True+Bluenoses+stand+right+behind+Cunningham+and+his+criticisms%3B...-a0145710327 |title=True Bluenoses stand right behind Cunningham and his criticisms |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=12 May 2006 |access-date=18 July 2010 |via=The Free Library}}</ref> the club reacted furiously,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Incensed+Blues+hit+back.%28Sport%29-a0145710328 |title=Incensed Blues hit back |first=Brian |last=Dick |newspaper=Birmingham Post |date=12 May 2006 |access-date=18 July 2010 |via=The Free Library}}</ref> and chairman [[David Gold (businessman)|David Gold]] wondered "if Kenny would have said the same things if we'd stayed up, Portsmouth had gone down and he'd been given a lucrative new contract".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:AWNB:BSMB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=1119C025599F1CD0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=0D0CB57AB53DF815 |title=You are a wimp and a coward |first=Graham |last=Hill |newspaper=Sunday Mercury |location=Birmingham |date=14 May 2006 |access-date=18 July 2010 |via=NewsBank}}</ref>

===Sunderland===
Cunningham signed for Sunderland on 19 July 2006 with Sunderland chairman [[Niall Quinn]] praising his leadership qualities.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/5166460.stm |title=Cunningham signs Sunderland deal |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 July 2006 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> He made 11 appearances for the Black Cats as they won the [[Football League Championship|Championship]], but no more appearances after October when he was made captain by manager [[Roy Keane]] before sustaining an injury.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2348639/Keane-needs-a-captain.html |title=Keane needs a captain |first=Jason |last=Mellor |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London |date=23 October 2006 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> He was released at the end of the season,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sunderland/6668885.stm |title=Keane lets Cunningham & Miller go |publisher=BBC Sport |date=18 May 2007 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> and retired as a player.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.safc.com/news/?page_id=13223 |title=What a difference a year makes! |first=Nick |last=Alexander |publisher=Sunderland A.F.C. |date=21 September 2007 |access-date=21 September 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609193653/http://www.safc.com/news/what-a-difference-a-year-makes.html |archive-date=9 June 2009}}</ref>

==International career==
Cunningham won a total of 72 caps for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team]]. He made his debut on 24 April 1996 in 2–0 friendly loss to the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] in [[Prague]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Liam |date=13 October 2005 |title=Captain Cunningham takes his bow from international stage |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/captain-cunningham-takes-his-bow-from-international-stage-25961297.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=independent |language=en}}</ref>

He was named as [[FAI International Football Awards|FAI Senior International Player of the Year]] in 1998.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Philip |date=12 October 1998 |title=Cunningham Player of the Year |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/cunningham-player-of-the-year-26171481.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=independent |language=en}}</ref>

In March 2001, he returned after a long layoff due to injury, replacing [[Richard Dunne]] to partner [[Gary Breen]] in defence for a match against [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2001/0323/154958-ireland4/ |title=Connolly and Cunningham return |publisher=RTÉ |date=23 March 2001 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> Cunningham was named team captain after the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]]. According to manager [[Mick McCarthy]]: "Kenny's qualities as a player are easy to see. From day one he has been a great influence. He is a talker on the pitch, he organises the players around him, and off the pitch he is a calm influence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/republic_of_ireland/2231525.stm |title=Cunningham is new Republic skipper |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 September 2002 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref>

He retired from international football after achieving 72 caps at the age of 34 on 12 October 2005, following Ireland's draw with [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]] at [[Lansdowne Road]], which resulted in his team's failure to qualify for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2005/1013/197183-ireland/ |title=Kerr sees bright future, Kenny quits |publisher=RTÉ |date=13 October 2005 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref>

Cunningham urged caution following a FIFA rule change allowing players over the age of 21 to switch their international allegiance. Commenting in relation to Ireland's qualifying campaign ahead of the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]], he said: "It wouldn't be something I'd be hugely in favour of" and "I'd be very disappointed if I was a player in that squad to miss out on the World Cup for somebody who was jumping on board at the last minute".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/international/2009/0608/250209-ireland/ |title=Cunningham wary on eligibility change |publisher=RTÉ |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref>

==After football==
Cunningham has worked as a pundit on the Premier League and Champions League for both [[Setanta Ireland]] and [[Premier Sports]], on [[RTÉ Sport]]'s coverage of the League of Ireland and for [[Sky Sports]]'s coverage of [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Ireland]] matches. He coached at English [[Non-League football|non-league]] club [[Nuneaton Town F.C.|Nuneaton Town]], who won promotion in his first year there.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/pinkonline/2010/06/rob-foster-wishes-nuneaton-the.html |title=Rob Foster wishes Nuneaton the best |first=Danielle |last=Hicks |newspaper=Coventry Telegraph |date=15 June 2010 |access-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725114542/http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/pinkonline/2010/06/rob-foster-wishes-nuneaton-the.html |archive-date=25 July 2011}}</ref> before completing his [[UEFA Pro Licence]] in Ireland. He was appointed assistant to the [[League of Ireland XI]] manager [[Damien Richardson (footballer)|Damien Richardson]] for the [[Dublin Super Cup]] tournament in 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.airtricityleague.ie/index.php/component/content/article/3618/3618 |title=Kenny Cunningham appointed Airtricity League XI assistant manager for Dublin Super Cup |publisher=Airtricity League |date=5 July 2011 |access-date=15 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709154505/http://www.airtricityleague.ie/index.php/component/content/article/3618/3618 |archive-date=9 July 2011}}</ref>
He covered tournaments including the [[2013 FIFA Confederations Cup|2013 Confederations Cup]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the42.ie/tahiti-spain-confed-cup-kenny-cunningham-rte-960692-Jun2013/|title=Kenny Cunningham laid into Tahiti after the 10-0 defeat to Spain|publisher=[[TheJournal.ie#The42.ie|The42]]|first=Ben|last=Blake|date=21 June 2013|accessdate=3 July 2021}}</ref> [[2014 FIFA World Cup|2014 World Cup]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.the42.ie/new-rte-panel-1501765-Jun2014/ |title=Move over Dunphy... RTÉ adds new faces to World Cup coverage |first=Adrian |last=Russell |website=The42.ie |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=23 January 2018}}</ref> [[UEFA Euro 2016|Euro 2016]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/euro-2016/2016/0601/792547-rte-sport-reveals/ |title=RTÉ Sport unveils Euro 2016 coverage |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=2 June 2016 |access-date=31 May 2016}}</ref> and [[UEFA Euro 2020|Euro 2020]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.rte.ie/2021/06/10/rte-announces-details-of-uefa-euro-2020-coverage-live-and-exclusive/|title=RTÉ announces details of UEFA EURO 2020 coverage – live and exclusive|website=about.rte.ie|date=10 June 2021|accessdate=29 June 2021}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Sunderland'''
*[[Football League Championship]]: [[2006–07 Football League Championship|2006–07]]
'''Individual'''

* [[FAI International Football Awards|FAI Senior International Player of the Year]]: 1998<ref name=":1" />
* Wimbledon Player of the Season: 1999–2000, 2001–02<ref name=":0" />

==Career statistics==
===Club===
:Source: {{ENFA}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|[[FA Cup]]
!colspan="2"|[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="7"|[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|[[1989–90 Millwall F.C. season|1989–90]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|5||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||5||0
|-
|[[1990–91 Millwall F.C. season|1990–91]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|23||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||24||0
|-
|[[1991–92 Millwall F.C. season|1991–92]]
|Second Division
|17||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||18||0
|-
|[[1992–93 Millwall F.C. season|1992–93]]
|First Division
|37||0||0||0||4||0||2{{efn|name=AIC|Appearances in [[Anglo-Italian Cup]]}}||1||43||1
|-
|[[1993–94 Millwall F.C. season|1993–94]]
|First Division
|39||1||0||0||3||0||4{{efn|name=MIL|Two appearances in [[Anglo-Italian Cup]], two in [[Football League First Division|First Division]] play-offs}}||0||46||1
|-
|[[1994–95 Millwall F.C. season|1994–95]]
|First Division
|15||0||colspan="2"|—||2||0||colspan="2"|—||17||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!136!!1!!1!!0!!10!!0!!6!!1!!153!!2
|-
|rowspan="9"|[[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
|[[1994–95 Wimbledon F.C. season|1994–95]]
|[[Premier League]]
|28||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||32||0
|-
|[[1995–96 Wimbledon F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|33||0||8||0||2||0||0||0||43||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Wimbledon F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|36||0||7||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||50||0
|-
|[[1997–98 Wimbledon F.C. season|1997–98]]
|Premier League
|32||0||3||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||38||0
|-
|[[1998–99 Wimbledon F.C. season|1998–99]]
|Premier League
|35||0||2||0||7||0||colspan="2"|—||44||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 Wimbledon F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|Premier League
|37||0||2||0||4||0||colspan="2"|—||43||0
|-
|[[2000–01 Wimbledon F.C. season|2000–01]]
|First Division
|15||0||5||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||20||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Wimbledon F.C. season|2001–02]]
|First Division
|34||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||36||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!250!!0!!33!!0!!23!!0!!0!!0!!306!!0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
|[[2002–03 Birmingham City F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|31||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||32||0
|-
|[[2003–04 Birmingham City F.C. season|2003–04]]
|Premier League
|36||0||4||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||41||0
|-
|[[2004–05 Birmingham City F.C. season|2004–05]]
|Premier League
|36||0||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||38||0
|-
|[[2005–06 Birmingham City F.C. season|2005–06]]
|Premier League
|31||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||33||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!134!!0!!7!!0!!3!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!144!!0
|-
|[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
|[[2006–07 Sunderland A.F.C. season|2006–07]]
|[[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|11||0||0||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||12||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!531!!1!!41!!0!!37!!0!!6!!1!!615!!2
|}

{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Soccerbase}}

{{Republic of Ireland Squad 2002 World Cup}}
{{FAI Senior International Player of the Year}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Kenny}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Association footballers from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Gaelic footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Gaelic games players from County Dublin]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's B international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Home Farm F.C. players]]
[[Category:Tolka Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:Millwall F.C. players]]
[[Category:Wimbledon F.C. players]]
[[Category:Birmingham City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]