Dean Shiels Cup Final, which Kilmarnock won after beating Celtic 1–0. Shiels was shortlisted for the SPFA Players' Player of the Year award, along with Jon Daly, Steven Davis and Charlie Mulgrew. Shiels rejected the offer of a new contract with Kilmarnock and left the club at the end of the season. Shiels signed for Rangers on 31 July 2012. Kilmarnock's chairman Michael Johnson believes Rangers had underestimate Kilmarnock to get Shiels. Shiels vowed to make the club win a trophy this season and revealed he turned down clubs around Europe, which he could even play in the Champions League; instead, preferring
Kenny Shiels League Cup in his first season in charge, but he was sacked in June 2013 after he had been frequently punished by the Scottish Football Association for making controversial comments. Shiels was appointed manager of Scottish Championship club Greenock Morton in December 2013, and resigned in May 2014. He became Derry City manager in 2015. Shiels spent his entire playing career in Northern Irish football, both in the Irish Football League and at lower levels. Beginning at minor club Bridgend United, he subsequently appeared for Tobermore United, Coleraine, Distillery, Tobermore United again, Larne, Ballymena United, Tobermore United for a third