Colin Healy: Being his late wife's kidney donor, Ireland fiasco and becoming 'Kerry now'

New Kerry FC manager Colin Healy poses for a portrait at the club grounds at Mounthawk Park in Tralee, Kerry. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Colin Healy has revealed he donated his kidney to his late wife during her long eight-year battle with cancer.

The former Ireland midfielder was part of the women’s national team staff when Kelly passed away in April 2024 and he’s become the lone parent to two children since.

Healy’s personal anguish was compounded by the controversy around his exit from the FAI, in the aftermath of what he admits was a shock Euro playoff defeat to Wales in December.

He declined opportunities to return to the sideline, including Premier Division Waterford and the assistant role at Cork City, to finally make his comeback as the first full-time boss at First Division Kerry FC.

Healy is familiar with the division from winning it in 2022 during his first senior job as Cork City manager.

He was absent for a brief period early in that promotion-winning campaign and has explained it was due to his involvement in the transplant procedure.

“My wife was sick for eight years, so it was really difficult,” he said about what he’s described publicly as the toughest year of his life.

“We were two years in the First Division but in our promotion year, Kelly needed a kidney, so I was her donor.

“That was a tough year too. And I came back probably too quickly, after only 10 days.” 

It was poignant that his diversion into the women’s side of the game was recommended by Kelly.

Healy was four months out of work after leaving Cork City – this week two years ago – when the window arose to flank Gleeson in the post-Vera Pauw era for the Ireland team.

Colin Healy with Kerry FC CEO Billy Dennehy. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Decision time was limited but unlike this time around between jobs, so were his options.

“I was really nervous going into the women's squad,” he confessed. “It was my wife who said to go and do it. I was like: ‘Yeah, but I haven’t done it before and you’re dealing with top, top players like Denise O’Sullivan and Katie McCabe’.

“She said just go see what it's like and you might enjoy it. I was out of work and I didn't have many options, the only being travelling to America.

“They (the FAI) needed a quick decision, I went in, it was brilliant and I loved it.” His fond memories were soured by the nature of the ending.

Those in football circles were convinced of his bona fides when two statements were released, the first from his agent in December, and a second personal version on the January day Gleeson’s successor Carla Ward was presented to the media.

Admitting it would have taken a serious matter for someone of his understated nature to vent publicly, the 45-year-old was still unwilling to delve into the details of the episode, preferring to keep the focus on his new employers.

He has been heartened by the widespread support received from the football community, including fellow League of Ireland managers Damien Duff and Stephen Bradley.

Last week he visited the latter at his Shamrock Rovers base in Dublin, just days before he finally said yes to Kerry chief executive Billy Dennehy and American-based owner John Wall.

“I’ve loads of respect for these lads,” he outlined.

“I played with Duffer. I know Stephen, and he’s going through a tough time at the moment himself with his son but the job that he's done with Rovers is incredible.

“Bradser and Stephen McPhail came to Kelly’s funeral and it was nice to see them again.

“When someone is going through tough times, you need good people around them. And I've got a lot.

“There's some days that you don't want it, you just want to be by yourself, and then some days, it's there for you.” 

A byproduct of Healy joining Kerry is eliminating a return to the FAI. Ward, after initially claiming the retention of Healy on her staff was a non-runner, more lately left the door slightly ajar. 

One of her two assistants, Amber Whitley, will leave if her caretaker role as Liverpool manager is upgraded to permanent.

“I can’t be sitting back home watching television and then thinking Amber is going to go,” he said about Ward’s hypothetical proposition.

“I know she said in one of the press conferences there could be an opportunity - but they have coaches there.

“It just doesn't work like that. I need to look out for myself as well.

“I’m Kerry now. I spoke to a few clubs but this project excites me. I don’t live too far away and that was a big part. I’ve got two kids so one thing that drew me here, apart from football, was how short the driving distance is.” 

Now gets motoring, starting with Friday’s visit of Munster rivals Treaty United to Mounthawk Park.