Fadz backs 'old school' Coventry City defender in his own image to step up amid Frank Lampard advice
Coventry City legend Kyle McFadzean is backing Liam Kitching – the man brought in as his long-term replacement – to be a future permanent captain of the club.
The 37-year-old centre-half delighted the travelling Sky Blue Army last weekend when he joined them in the away end at Hillsborough and, being a life-long Sheffield United fan, thoroughly enjoyed Ellis Simms’ stoppage time winner over the Blades’ arch rivals.
McFadzean, who still lives in the Sheffield area, is currently out injured and took the opportunity to take in the match with his current team, League Two Chesterfield, away from home. He keeps a close eye on the Sky Blues – with whom he enjoyed the best years of his career over a five year spell – and is desperate for the club to go one better than the 2023 play-off final against Luton from his days at the club.
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As well as having a close connection with the fans, Fadz also keeps in touch with old team-mates, including current defender Liam Kitching. The pair only had half a season together in 2023/24 before McFadzean switched to Blackburn Rovers in the January window of 2024, but they struck up a strong bond in that short time together.
“I speak to Kitch every day; speak to him all the time,” said McFadzean. “He’s a really good friend of mine. We hit it off straight away. We’re similar people and get on so well. He’s a good guy and a good player, and that’s the main thing.”
Like a lot of the current City players, Kitching struggled with form in the first half of the campaign but has recaptured that under Frank Lampard, re-establishing himself as a regular in the starting line-up.
And McFadzean is clearly a big admirer of the player, saying: “His tackle in the first half on Saturday stopped a goal, basically, that block virtually on the line.
“I think he’s got it in him to be captain at Coventry, I really do. He has a lot of leadership qualities that not everyone sees. He’s very vocal and good with the lads at the training ground.”
Kitching is similar in style to McFadzean, being a bit of an old school defender with a clear aggressive side to his game.
“Yeah, one hundred percent,” agreed Fadz. “I used to hate playing against him because he always used to mark me and that’s what I liked about him, to be honest. When we first signed him I thought, ‘what a signing,’ and I still think he’s going to be an unbelievable signing for the club, and he’s got plenty of good years ahead of him, too.
“He used to pull and nip you, just the old school kind of stuff. He’s got a bit of that in him and he can definitely play football as well.”
The centre-half, who played 171 times and scored eight goals for Coventry, is hoping the Sky Blues get the play-offs this season but has one bit of advice for Lampard, saying: “I’d still like to see them play four at the back because I think they are stronger like that, much stronger as a four.
“They have got Haji and Sheafo coming back, and Jamie Paterson looks a really good signing as well, so hopefully they can get to the play-offs again and go one better this time.”
