{{short description|Welsh footballer and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Lee Kendall | image = | image_size = 250px | caption = Lee Kendall playing against Partizan Belgrade during a 2009 UEFA Champions League qualifier. | fullname = Lee Mark Kendall | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1981|1|8}} | birth_place = Newport, Wales | youthyears1 = 1998–2000| youthclubs1 = Crystal Palace | position = Goalkeeper | currentclub = Cardiff City F.C (Head of Academy Goalkeeping) | years1 = 2000–2002 | clubs1 = Cardiff City | caps1 = 3 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2000–2001 | clubs2 = → Barry Town United (loan) | caps2 = 14 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2002–2003 | clubs3 = Shrewsbury Town | caps3 = 1 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2003–2007 | clubs4 = Haverfordwest County | caps4 = 136 | goals4 = 0 | years5 = 2007–2009 | clubs5 = Rhyl | caps5 = 52 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2009–2011 | clubs6 = Port Talbot Town | caps6 = 47 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2011–2012 | clubs7 = Neath | caps7 = 26 | goals7 = 0 | years8 = 2012 | clubs8 = Prestatyn | caps8 = 3 | goals8 = 0 | totalcaps = 278 | totalgoals = 0 | manageryears1 = 2022-2023 | managerclubs1 = Barry Town United | manageryears2 = 2024 | managerclubs2 = Bath City (caretaker) }}
'''Lee Mark Kendall''' (born 8 January 1981)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=19810|title=Lee Kendall Goalkeeper|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=22 July 2013|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> is a UEFA Pro Licence Welsh football coach and Wales U21 International. He is currently Head of Academy Goalkeeping at Cardiff City FC.
== Career == Kendall began his playing career in English football, with London-based club Crystal Palace where he also represented Wales at U16, U18, & U21 level.<ref name="welsh-premier">{{cite web|url=http://www.welsh-premier.com/player_detail.php?player_id=239=WPL%7Ctitle=Career|title=WPL career details for Lee Kendall|publisher=Welsh Premier|access-date=22 July 2013|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> He had a loan spell with Barry Town before joining Welsh side Cardiff City in 2000 in a move worth £50,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cardiff_city/1081673.stm|title=Cardiff clinch Kendall signature|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 July 2013|date=22 December 2000}}</ref> His only senior appearance for Cardiff was a Football League Trophy tie against Rushden & Diamonds.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/1600592.stm |title=Cardiff 7-1 Rushden |publisher=BBC |date=16 October 2001 |access-date=18 October 2017}}</ref> Following his time at Cardiff, Kendall then had a spell at League Two club Shrewsbury Town, before moving into semi-professional football with Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest County in 2003.<ref name="welsh-premier" />
Kendall who also represented Wales at Under-21 level,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW54349.ink|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130729144718/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW54349.ink|url-status=usurped|archive-date=29 July 2013|title=UEFA U-21 World Cup Championship 2002 match Poland V Wales at Opdczno Tuesday, 10th October 2000. Kick off 14.15 (GMT) Wales|publisher=The Football Association of Wales|access-date=22 July 2013|date=22 July 2013}}</ref> signed the longest ever contract in the history of the Welsh Premier League intended to last 5 years in 2005 with then Welsh Premier League side Haverfordwest County, but left two years later to gain Champions League football with Rhyl F.C. He later joined fellow Welsh Premier League side Port Talbot Town where he featured in the Europa League. Following a season and a half with Port Talbot Town, Kendall left to take up a coaching role with Sheffield United, but later returned to the Welsh Premier League to sign for Neath in June 2011. At the end of the 2011–12 season, Kendall announced his decision to end his playing career but later returned to help Prestatyn out of a goalkeeping crisis in December 2012 making three appearances for the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Keeper-s-coaching-deal-Sheffield/story-12424360-detail/story.html#axzz2ZmsBBeRF|title=Keeper's coaching deal at Sheffield|publisher=This is South Wales|access-date=22 July 2013|date=24 November 2010}}</ref>
== Coaching and management career ==
Kendall began his coaching career in 2010 when he was appointed academy goalkeeper coach at then Championship side Sheffield United, where he linked up with fellow Welshman Gary Speed who was manager at Bramall Lane.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisissouthwales.co.uk/Keeper-s-coaching-deal-Sheffield/story-12424360-detail/story.html#axzz2UaV2h1Fa|title=Keeper's coaching deal at Sheffield|publisher=This is South Wales|access-date=22 July 2013|date=24 November 2010}}</ref> In 2012, Kendall then made a return to one of his former clubs, Cardiff City, to undertake the role of head academy goalkeeper coach.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/lee-kendall-back-cardiff-city-2028831|title=Lee Kendall back at Cardiff City as goalkeeping coach|publisher=Wales Online|access-date=22 July 2013|date=8 June 2010}}</ref> On 24 May 2013, Kendall was appointed first team goalkeeper coach at Bristol City following recommendation from former Bristol City goalkeeper Tom Heaton who previously worked with Kendall at Cardiff City.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/Heaton-recommended-new-City-coach-Kendall-making/story-19120347-detail/story.html#axzz2VoCWxEVM%7Ctitle=Heaton|title=Heaton recommended new City coach Kendall after making exit|publisher=The Bristol Post|access-date=22 July 2013|date=29 May 2013}}</ref>
On 24 January 2014, Kendall was appointed as England women's national football team goalkeeper coach signing a four-year contract.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/england/womens/2014/jan/fa-appoints-lee-kendall-goalkeeping-coach|title=Lee Kendall named new England Women's Goalkeeping Coach|date=24 January 2014|publisher=FA Staff|access-date=23 June 2015}}</ref> Kendall was a key member of the coaching staff when the team won Bronze at the Women's World Cup 2015 in Canada and Euro 2017 semi finals.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
In December 2017 Kendall took up the full-time position as Head Coach of the University of South Wales Men's Football team. Kendall led the team to a National title in 2018-19 season going a whole season undefeated. This was the only time in the history of BUCS competition that a University Men's Premier Football team had gone a whole season without losing a single match in league and cup. Kendall also had a National semi-final 2017-18 and quarter-final 2019-20 as Head Coach at USW.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Alongside his role Kendall acts as a Goalkeeping coach for The Football Association of Wales, covering Men's National Youth Teams, a role he started in May 2018. In June 2019 he also covered a Wales Men's Senior camp in Cardiff.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
He is a coach educator at UEFA A Goalkeeping and Outfield level for the Football Association of Wales.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Kendall holds UEFA A Licences in Goalkeeping and Outfield coaching, FA Advanced Youth Award.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Kendall also has a BSc in Sport Coaching and a Masters in Performance Coaching.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
In February 2020 Kendall was accepted on the UEFA Pro Licence and completed June 2021.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}}
Kendall was appointed Head of Goalkeeping at Fleetwood Town on 28 June 2021. He left the club after only one season due to family reasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fleetwoodtownfc.com/news/2022/may/kendall-release/|title=Goalkeeper coach Lee Kendall departs club|website=www.fleetwoodtownfc.com|date=5 May 2022}}</ref> On 12 May 2022 Kendall joined one of his former clubs Barry Town United as Assistant Manager. On 1 June 2022 Kendall was named Head of Football at Cardiff and the Vale College alongside his role at Barry Town United.{{citation needed|date=August 2022}} On the 6th November 2022 Kendall was appointed Barry Town United Manager. Kendall went on to lead Barry Town United to the Cymru South title and the Welsh Blood Service regional and national cup finals.
On 25 July 2023, Kendall resigned as manager after just nine months in charge, despite previously signing a two-year contract with Barry following their promotion back to the Cymru Premier.<ref>[https://broradio.fm/kendall-leaves-barry-town-united Kendall leaves Barry Town United], broradio.fm, 25 July 2023</ref>
In November 2024, Kendall was appointed caretaker manager of Bath City, where he had been goalkeeping coach since September.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.bathcityfc.com/club-statement-jerry-gill/|title=Club Statement - Jerry Gill|website=www.bathcityfc.com|date=18 November 2024|accessdate=23 May 2025}}</ref> Following the appointment of Darren Way as manager in December, Kendall remained at the club as assistant manager.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.bathcityfc.com/bath-city-announce-new-manager/|title=City announce Darren Way as new manager|website=www.bathcityfc.com|date=23 December 2024|accessdate=23 May 2025}}</ref>
In May 2025, Kendall was appointed head of goalkeeping at League Two club Newport County.<ref> {{cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/david-hughes-appointed-newport-county-manager|title=David Hughes appointed as Newport County manager|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|date=23 May 2025|accessdate=23 May 2025}}</ref>
In April 2026 Kendall was announced as Cardiff City Head of Academy Goalkeeping. {{Citation needed|date=April 2026}}
== Personal life == Lee Kendall is the son of former Wolves & Spurs goalkeeper Mark Kendall.
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == *{{Soccerbase|19810}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kendall, Lee}} Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers Category:Footballers from Newport, Wales Category:Men's association football goalkeepers Category:Welsh men's footballers Category:Haverfordwest County A.F.C. players Category:Shrewsbury Town F.C. players Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players Category:Cardiff City F.C. players Category:Port Talbot Town F.C. players Category:Wales men's youth international footballers Category:Prestatyn Town F.C. players Category:Sheffield United F.C. non-playing staff Category:Rhyl F.C. players Category:Neath F.C. players Category:Welsh football managers Category:Pontypridd United F.C. managers Category:Taff's Well A.F.C. managers Category:Barry Town United F.C. managers Category:Bath City F.C. managers Category:Cymru Premier managers Category:National League (English football) managers Category:Fleetwood Town F.C. non-playing staff Category:Newport County A.F.C. non-playing staff Category:21st-century Welsh sportsmen