Kevin Maher returned to Southend United to take over as Head Coach in October 2021.

Kev twice skippered the Club to promotion as a player, making over 450 appearances for Blues.

A midfield technician in his playing days, he started his career in Tottenham Hotspur’s Academy before moving to south Essex in 1998.

After a difficult start to life at Roots Hall, Maher soon established himself as an ever-present in the side and a mainstay in the team.

Two visits to the Millennium Stadium for Football League Trophy finals signified the start of a successful time for the club with Steve Tilson at the helm, and Maher played a vital role that.

It was third time lucky in the Welsh capital for the League Two Play-Off final, which saw Kevin captain the club to glory, and the following season he and Blues went one better by winning the League One title at the expense of bitter rivals Colchester United to secure back-to-back promotions.

After that hugely successful period, Maher's playing time suffered and he was no longer an automatic first choice, he departed the club. Elsewhere and Maher would go on to play for Gillingham, Oldham Athletic and Dagenham & Redbridge before seeing out his career at Bray Wanderers, Whitehawk and Chelmsford City.

His move into coaching saw him manage Chelmsford City and then the club’s U23 side. Kevin would move in search of a first team position which came with Bristol Rovers, working with four different managers in that time on the coaching side, before his homecoming when offered the Head Coach role at Blues in October 2021.

As of 20 April 2024, Maher has won 58 of his 135 games in charge of Blues.