Christopher Kirkland is a former English professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper and is now a goalkeeping coach and mental health advocate. He started his career at Coventry City in 1999 and quickly gained recognition as a talented player. In August 2001, he signed with Liverpool for £6 million, but injuries affected his time there. Kirkland had loan spells at West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City, and Doncaster Rovers before joining Wigan Athletic in July 2006, initially on loan, which later became a permanent transfer for £2.5 million. At Wigan, he won the Players' Player of the Year and Media Player of the Year awards for the 2007–08 season. He made his debut for the English national team in August 2006, playing in a 4-0 victory against Greece. After leaving Wigan, he played for Sheffield Wednesday and Preston North End before retiring in August 2016. Throughout his career, Kirkland faced significant mental health challenges, including depression, which he has openly discussed to raise awareness and support others. After retiring, he became the goalkeeping coach at Port Vale in 2017 and later joined Liverpool's women's team in 2018, stepping down in March 2019 to focus on his goalkeeping academy. He established the Chris Kirkland Goalkeeper Academy to help young goalkeepers develop their skills. As a mental health advocate, he has worked with organizations like the LFC Foundation and Edge Hill University to promote mental health awareness. In 2024, Kirkland received an honorary doctorate from Edge Hill University for his contributions to mental health advocacy and was invited to receive an England legacy cap for his national team contributions. He is also known for his engaging public speaking, sharing insights on teamwork and leadership from his extensive football career.
