PLAYER PROFILE

Dean Kiely

Position: Goal

Height: 6'0

Weight: 12st 13lbs

Date of Birth: 1970-10-10 Salford, England

Dean Kiely

Signed by Charlton for £1million in the summer of 1999, Dean Kiely went on to complete a Championship winning, record breaking season for the Addicks. He is a product of the FA School of Excellence at Lilleshall.

The former England schoolboy international also made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland, appearing as a substitute against Turkey in November of that year.

Despite Bury being relegated in 1999, Kiely won a lot of admirers and kept 19 clean sheets for the Shakers in the First Division - a feat he repeated with promoted Charlton a season later, equaling Nicky John's all time club record. He was signed from York City by Bury for £125,000 in 1996 and won the Division Two title with them in his first season.

Kiely has built an excellent reputation for himself as a shot-stopper, and before he signed for Charlton was attracting the interest of other Premiership clubs.

In 2001/02, he was once again in excellent form for Charlton, making 45 appearances, and being selected for the Irish 2002 World Cup squad.

He played 41 games over the 2002/03 campaign and firmly established himself as the number one keeper at the Valley and continued to make in-roads at international level.

He was kept out of the Irish side during the following season but continued between the sticks for Charlton, keeping ten clean sheets for the Addicks as they enjoyed one of their best ever Premiership seasons.

The 2004/05 campaign saw him continue this fine form. He made 41 appearances and kept 13 clean sheets. However, the following season saw him lose his place, first to Stephan Andersen and then Thomas Myhre. It was no surprise then that he jumped at the chance to join Portsmouth in January 2006, quickly establishing himself as Harry Redknapp's first choice.

However, the arrival in the summer of David James pushed him to second choice again, and in November 2006 he moved to Luton Town on loan. He remained out of favour in the second half of the season and was sold to West Brom in January 2007.

With the Baggies he has once again established himself as a top shot-stopper. Tony Mowbray's side narrowly missed out on promotion at the end of the 2006/07 season, but they finished Championship winners in 07/08 thanks in no small part to Kiely's superb goalkeeping.

In May 2008, he was re-called to the Ireland squad for the first time in five years by new coach Geovanni Trapattoni, and he looks set to be a key player for both club and country in the 2008/09 campaign.