Concussion concern forces Kevin Doyle retirement
The Colorado Rapids striker had been named in the provisional panel for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Wales but yesterday came the shock announcement from the player himself that he will not now be available for those games — or any more football matches.
The potential implications of his concussion problem, it turns out, were considered sufficiently serious for the 34-year-old, acting upon medical advice, to take the decision to retire from the game with immediate effect.
“This year it has been clear to me that heading the ball was becoming problematic and causing me to have repeated headaches,” he said in a statement. “Two concussions this season and numerous others over the years have made this more concerning. After consulting the experts in this field, it has been decided that to avoid the possibility of these symptoms becoming more serious and permanent, I will be hanging my boots up for good.”
Statement on my retirment pic.twitter.com/3dTXdk4EXU
— Kevin Doyle (@KevinDoyle1983) September 28, 2017
The sombre news will add fresh impetus in this country and in the game in general to the growing debate about heading the ball, concussion and the possibility of links to long-term damage to the brain. The issue has long been in the spotlight in sport in the United States where Doyle ended his career playing for Colorado Rapids in the MLS.
Having expressed sadness at his enforced retirement, Doyle went on to pay tribute to the many people who helped him during a stellar career which saw him play in the League of Ireland with Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic and in England with Reading, Wolves, QPR and Crystal Palace. He also won 63 caps and scored 14 goals for Ireland.
Martin O’Neill, under whom Doyle made his last Irish appearance against Iceland in March, said: “I am disappointed to hear that Kevin has had to retire from football. Kevin was extremely popular with all of the players in the Irish camp and he was an excellent professional, who has served his clubs and country very well during his career.”
FAI boss John Delaney said: “Kevin is one of the great Irish goalscorers of all time, who gave everything for his country.”
Delaney added that the FAI would pay tribute to Doyle at the Aviva Stadium “for his immense contribution to Irish football, at a time that is appropriate for him.”
A hugely popular figure in the game, Doyle’s poignant statement drew warm appreciation from many fans, players and former clubs, including Wolves who noted that he had spent the best part of six years at the club and extended an invitation to “pop in and see us some time, Doyler”.
Cork City, the club with whom Doyle shot to prominence, tweeted: “We wish our former player Kevin Doyle the very best of luck on his retirement and every best wish for the future.”
We wish our former player @KevinDoyle1983 the very best of luck on his retirement and every best wish for the future #CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/eFncbSQw6j
— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) September 28, 2017
Wexford FC told him: “the jersey will always be waiting for you”.
Irish football legend Paul McGrath also tweeted his best wishes, adding, “I will see you in Wexford soon for a game of golf.”
Doyle in numbers
2: Matches as captain of Ireland (vs South Africa, 2009, and Oman, 2012).
3: Years since his last interntional goal (vs Oman, September 2014).
5: Managers played for at international level (Steve Staunton, Don Givens, Giovanni Trapattoni, Noel King, Martin O’Neill).
5: Clubs played for while representing Ireland (Reading, Wolves, Queens Park Rangers, Crystal Palace, Colorado Rapids).
10: Of his 63 caps were made as a substitute.
11: Years since he made his senior international debut (vs Sweden, March 2006).
11: National teams against whom he scored (San Marino, Slovakia (2), Ecuador, Wales, Georgia, Cyprus, Paraguay, Andorra (2), Kazakhstan, Oman (2) and Costa Rica).
14: Goals (9 in competitive matches, 5 in friendlies) make Doyle joint-8th (with Noel Cantwell and Jon Walters) in the all-time list of Ireland’s scorers.
25th: Doyle and Gary Breen are joint-25th in the all-time list of Ireland’s most-capped players (63 selections each).
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