Chris Kamara Biography: Christopher Kamara MBE, born on December 25, 1957, is a former English professional footballer and manager who became widely recognized as a presenter and football analyst on Sky Sports from 1992 until 2022. Kamara was best known on the pitch for his robust, hard-tackling style as a midfielder.
Chris Kamara Biography
Chris Kamara is set to make a return to football broadcasting later this week as part of Amazon Prime’s Premier League coverage. The 67-year-old former midfielder—who played for clubs such as Swindon Town, Brentford, and Leeds United—recently confirmed via X (formerly Twitter) that he will be involved in Amazon Prime’s Boxing Day Premier League coverage. Kamara will be reporting live from the City Ground, covering the clash between Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur, where he’ll be linking up with longtime colleague Jeff Stelling in the studio. Kamara enjoyed a long career in broadcasting after retiring from professional football and management. He transitioned into media in the late 1990s, becoming a popular personality on shows like Soccer Saturday, Goals on Sunday, and Soccer AM. He left Sky Sports at the end of the 2021–22 season, shortly after being diagnosed with apraxia, a speech condition.
Chris Kamara Biography 2025 Details
| Full name |
Christopher Kamara |
| Date of birth |
25 December 1957 (age 67) |
| Place of birth |
Middlesbrough, England |
| Height |
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Position(s) |
Midfielder |
| Category |
Football Biographies |
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About Chris Kamara
Christopher Kamara MBE is an English former professional footballer and manager who worked as a presenter and football analyst at Sky Sports from 1992 to 2022. As a player, he was known as a tough-tackling midfielder. He joined the Royal Navy at the age of 16, before being signed by Portsmouth in November 1974.
Chris Kamara Wiki
- Born: 25 December 1957 (age 67 years), Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
- Spouse: Anne Kamara (m. 1982)
- Children: Jack Kamara, Ben Kamara
- Parents: Alimamy Kindo Kamara
- Height: 1.85 m
Chris Kamara Achievements
He enlisted in the Royal Navy at 16, following in the footsteps of his father, before launching his professional football career with Portsmouth in November 1974. After three years at Fratton Park, he moved to Swindon Town for £14,000. Kamara returned briefly to Portsmouth in 1981 for £50,000 before transferring to Brentford later that year, where he stayed for four seasons and earned a Football League Trophy runners-up medal in 1985. In August 1985, he rejoined Swindon Town and was instrumental in the club’s back-to-back promotions to the Second Division.
Early Life
Born in Middlesbrough, North Riding of Yorkshire, Kamara was the son of Sierra Leonean immigrant Alimamy Kindo “Albert” Kamara and British-born Irene Kamara. Although he was eligible to play for Sierra Leone and was invited to join their squad for the 1994 African Cup of Nations, he declined the offer. Kamara’s upbringing was shaped by hardship. His father’s gambling left the family in financial difficulty, often relying on the kindness of neighbors.
As one of the few Black families in Park End, they endured racial abuse. Despite this, Kamara developed a lifelong friendship with Steve Gibson, now chairman of Middlesbrough FC, with whom he grew up on the Park End council estate and attended matches regularly. Following his father’s urging, Kamara joined the Royal Navy at 16, missing out on a youth final for Middlesbrough Boys. He trained at HMS Raleigh in Torpoint and later at HMS Vernon, eventually playing football for the Navy team.
Chris Kamara Relationship Status
Chris Kamara is married to Anne Kamara. The couple tied the knot in 1982 and have remained together ever since. They share two sons, Jack and Ben Kamara. If you’re interested in learning more about Chris Kamara’s relationship and family life, keep reading.
Chris Kamara at a Glance
- Category: Richest Athletes › Soccer Players
- Net Worth:£15 million
- Date of Birth: December 25, 1957 (Age: 67)
- Place of Birth: Middlesbrough, England
- Height: 6 ft 1 in (1.86 m)
- Profession: Television Presenter, Former Footballer
- Nationality: British
Personal Life
Chris Kamara married his wife, Anne, on May 29, 1982. Together, they have two sons. Kamara revealed he had been diagnosed with an underactive thyroid after experiencing symptoms like “brain fog” during an appearance on The One Show. Later, in a September 2022 interview on the FootballJOE podcast, he opened up about his struggles with speech issues. Which led to a diagnosis of apraxia of speech in March 2022. Kamara also shared that he had been “suffering in silence” for around 20 months before receiving his thyroid diagnosis. Despite announcing plans in April 2021 to scale back his broadcasting duties, Kamara continued working in television. In 2022, his health journey was documented in an ITV special titled Lost for Words.
What is Chris Kamara’s Net Worth 2025?
Chris Kamara, a former English professional footballer and manager turned television presenter, has an estimated net worth of £15 million. Born in Middlesbrough in December 1957, Kamara began his football journey while serving in the Royal Navy. He made his senior debut with Portsmouth in 1974 and later played for Swindon Town from 1977 to 1981, where he netted 21 goals across 147 appearances. He returned briefly to Portsmouth in 1981 before moving to Brentford, scoring 28 goals in 152 matches during his time there. Kamara later transitioned into football management and broadcasting, becoming a well-known and much-loved TV personality.
FAQs
What football teams did Chris Kamara play for during his career?
Chris Kamara played for several English clubs including Portsmouth, Swindon Town, Brentford, Stoke City, Leeds United, Luton Town, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough (on loan), and Bradford City.
How did Chris Kamara transition into football management?
Kamara began his managerial career as a player-coach at Bradford City in 1995, eventually becoming the head coach and leading them to promotion through the play-offs in 1996.
Why did Chris Kamara decline to play for Sierra Leone?
Although eligible through his father and invited to join Sierra Leone’s squad for the 1994 African Cup of Nations, Kamara declined the opportunity, focusing instead on his career in England.
What challenges did Chris Kamara face during his childhood?
Kamara experienced racial abuse growing up in Middlesbrough and faced financial struggles due to his father’s gambling, with his mother often seeking help to feed the family.
How did Chris Kamara’s time in the Royal Navy influence his football career?
Joining the Royal Navy at 16, Kamara missed a youth final but played for the Navy’s football team, which helped maintain his connection to the sport before turning professional.
Who is Steve Gibson and what is his connection to Chris Kamara?
Steve Gibson, the current chairman of Middlesbrough FC, grew up with Chris Kamara on the Park End council estate, and the two have remained close friends, attending matches together.
