IT Carlow welcomed Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane to its student body this week when the Irish international returned to college to complete his UEFA B Diploma final assessment and begin the early stages of the UEFA A Licence that could see him become a professional coach/manager when he eventually hangs up his boots.
Joining Robbie in the ‘classroom’ was former Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini, who played for Chelsea from 2000-2009 and a team mate of Robbie’s at Tottenham Hotspur and LA Galaxy. Cudicini, who is now working as a coach with the Tottenham Hotspur Academy, was completing his UEFA B Diploma course.
Keane and Cudicini joined IT Carlow’s 3rd Year BA Sport & Exercise (Soccer) students this week for two intense days of coach education. The senior team captain, who has notched up 65 goals as top goal scorer for the Republic of Ireland and who currently plays with LA Galaxy, joined Cudicini and more than 15 other students in the rigidly-assessed course. Together, they participated in both theoretical work and a series of practical assessments on the Institute’s all-weather soccer pitch.
IT Carlow delivers degree courses in Sport & Exercise in conjunction with the FAI, IRFU and Leinster Rugby Club – the only sporting collaboration of its kind in Europe. The UEFA B Diploma Course is a main element of the BA Sport & Exercise (Soccer) course. This course involves 60 hours of theory and practical sessions that have been tailored for elite players by the FAI’s Coach Education department using all of the latest coach education principals heralded by UEFA. Overseeing Robbie’s training was Paul O’Reilly, IT Carlow’s BA Sport & Exercise (Soccer) Course Manager and Luke Hardy, BA Sport & Exercise (Soccer) Co-coordinator.
Speaking today, Robbie Keane said, “I’d like to thank the combined team of the FAI plus Paul, Luke and the rest of the lecturers at IT Carlow for my training. It’s nice to have this professional qualification which I may put to good use when I eventually retire.”
Carlo Cudicini added, “I have already made the move from player to coach and am currently based at the Tottenham Hotspur Academy. I look forward to putting the skills I have acquired to good use.”
Paul O’Reilly commented, “IT Carlow is delighted that Robbie and the FAI Coaching specialists saw IT Carlow as the best place to run his coaching and managing training. The Institute has invested heavily in its sports courses and this investment pays off when we have players of Robbie’s calibre come to us for their professional coaching education with the FAI. Our graduates enjoy successful careers as Academy and Development Coaches, Performance Analysts, Personal Trainers and FAI programme co-ordinators as well as at semi-pro and professional level. We look forward to witnessing the next stage of Robbie’s career as a manager and doing so, no doubt, with the same success he continues to enjoy as a player and team captain”.
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For further information please contact: Alma Feeley, Communications Dept, IT Carlow
alma.feeley@itcarlow.ie 059 9175098/087 8204934