Oran Kearney (born 29 July 1978) is a Northern Irish professional football manager and former player who is the current manager of NIFL Premiership side Ballymena United.
Playing career
Kearney joined Ballymena United from Moyola Park in 2002, after father-in-law Kenny Shiels became manager of the club.
In 2005, Kearney joined Linfield. On 30 April 2009, Kearney announced his retirement.
Managerial career
In May 2009, Kearney was appointed manager of Limavady United. He then became manager of Coleraine in February 2011. Kearney guided Coleraine to win the Irish Cup in 2018 and second place in the NIFL Premiership in 2017–18. Kearney combined managing Coleraine with working as a PE teacher at the Cross and Passion College in Ballycastle.
Kearney interviewed for the St Mirren job in June 2018, but Alan Stubbs was appointed instead. Stubbs was sacked by St Mirren after four matches in the 2018–19 Scottish Premiership, and Kearney was appointed as his replacement. St Mirren finished 11th in the Premiership and avoided relegation by winning a play-off against Dundee United. Kearney left St Mirren on 26 June 2019, after only 10 months at the club.
He returned to Coleraine in July 2019 for a second spell as their manager. In May 2024, Kearney stepped down as manager to move into a sporting director position.
In May 2025, Kearney left his role of Sporting Director at Coleraine, quickly following manager Dean Shiels, his brother-in-law, out of the club.
On 7th December 2025, it was announced that Kearney had been appointed manager of Ballymena United, a team he made 121 appearances for as a player.
Personal life
Kearney is the son-in-law of former Derry City manager Kenny Shiels, and brother-in-law of Dean Shiels who was a former manager of Coleraine.
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 26 September 2026
| Team | From | To | Record | Ref. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Limavady United | 4 May 2009 | 5 February 2011 | 47 | 29 | 6 | 12 | 61.70 | |
| Coleraine | 5 February 2011 | 7 September 2018 | 336 | 155 | 85 | 96 | 46.13 | |
| St Mirren | 7 September 2018 | 26 June 2019 | 38 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 21.05 | |
| Coleraine | 3 July 2019 | 31 May 2024 | 222 | 106 | 51 | 65 | 47.75 | |
| Ballymena United | 7 December 2025 | Present | 30 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 20.00 | |
| Total | 673 | 304 | 162 | 207 | 45.17 | — | ||
Honours
Player
Linfield
- IFA Premiership: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Irish Cup: 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
- Irish League Cup: 2005–06, 2007–08
- County Antrim Shield: 2005-06
- Setanta Cup: 2005
Manager
Coleraine
St Mirren
- Scottish Premiership play-offs: 2018–19
