Kenny Shiels Kenny Shiels Kenny Shiels (born 27 April 1956 in Magherafelt) is a Northern Irish football player and manager who last managed Derry City in the League of Ireland. He spent all of his playing career at different levels in the Irish Football League. Shiels then moved into coaching with the Northern Ireland national football team (under 17s) and English league side Tranmere Rovers (head of youth development). He moved to Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock in 2010 to assist manager Mixu Paatelainen. Shiels was promoted to manager in 2011, after Paatelainen was appointed manager of Finland. Kilmarnock won the Scottish
Kenny Shiels from dropping down at the end of the season. Shiels responded by making a number of big name signings, including Tommy Wright, Paul Beesley and Liberian international Leon Browne, but none of them proved a success and the club finished in fifth place. The club improved significantly in the 2002–03 season, although ultimately they managed only second place in the First Division, as well as the Ulster Cup and the Country Antrim Shield. The league position was enough to ensure promotion, although the club had led the table until near the end when Dungannon Swifts took over at the top.