Graham Kavanagh

Graham Anthony Kavanagh (born December 2, 1973 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland) is an Republic of Ireland Association football, currently playing for Carlisle United on loan from Sunderland A.F.C., having also played for Home Farm F.C., Middlesbrough F.C., Stoke City F.C., Cardiff City F.C., Wigan Athletic F.C. and two loan spells at Sheffield Wednesday.

Kavanagh is well known for his hard tackling abilities as well as being able to add a creative dimension to his play. Nicknamed the 'Silver Fox' he has recently operated in a holding central midfield role, a slight contrast to his previous role at Cardiff, where he operated a more advanced attacking role as well as being club captain.

Career

Kavanagh began his career at Home Farm F.C., before joining Middlesbrough F.C. in 1991 but struggled to ever hold down a first team place and was sold to Stoke City F.C. in 1996, after a short loan spell at the club, for £250,000. He was eventually to move to Cardiff City F.C. in 2001 for £1m, and went on to score fifteen times in his first season at the club and help them to promotion the following year when they beat Queens Park Rangers F.C. in the Division two play-off final.

During the 2004-05 season Cardiff chairman Sam Hammam revealed that the club was in serious financial trouble and as such a number of players left the club to attempt to regain losses, including Kavanagh who signed for Wigan Athletic F.C. for a fee close to £400,000. On 31 August 2006, he signed a three-year deal with Roy Keane's Sunderland for £500,000. During that season he played 14 games, scoring one goal, before he was ruled out for the majority of games due to lingering injury problems.

He joined Sheffield Wednesday F.C. on 21 September 2007 on a loan deal to regain his fitness where he played seven games, scoring one goal against Watford F.C. on October 2. On 29 December, Leicester City F.C. made a bid for Kavanagh, together with Márton Fülöp.
However, on 31 January 2008 Kavanagh again joined Wednesday on a loan deal until the end of the season.

On 10 October, 2008 Kavanagh signed a short term loan deal at Football League One side Carlisle United F.C..

International

Kavanagh has 16 international cap (football) for the Republic of Ireland national football team, the last of which he picked up on 16 August 2006 against Holland national football team.

Trivia

Graham is married to the sister of Liam O'Brien (footballer).

Honours

With Cardiff City F.C.
- FAW Premier Cup: 2001-02
- Football League One play-off winners: The Football League 2002-03

With Wigan Athletic F.C.
- Football League Championship runner-up: The Football League 2004-05
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2005-06

With Sunderland A.F.C.
- Football League Championship: The Football League 2006-07