Kevin John Sheedy AM (born December 24, 1947) was the coach of AFL club Essendon, and a former player for Richmond. He holds the AFL record for the most games combined as a player and coach.

Sheedy was the quintessential self-made player. Not blessed with great skills, he was able to carve out a brilliant career with dedication, perseverance and thoughtfulness. At his peak, he was a supreme big-game performer who epitomised the "kill or be killed" attitude of the Richmond club. He also attracted criticism for his theatrical attempts to win free kicks, his provocative gestures to opposition players and his occasional use of force. Later in his career, he realised an ambition he had held since his schooldays of becoming a full-time professional football player.

After his retirement, he commenced a coaching career with Essendon that has endured through several eras of the game. Sheedy is an innovator whose ideas shaped the modern style of Australian football coaching, taking it away from the "hot gospelling", hard training style and into the realms of a science. He has been at the forefront of many changes to the game in the last 25 years, and, despite his idiosyncratic speaking style is always sought for an opinion on any matter concerned with football.

On July 25, 2007, it was announced that his contract would not be renewed at the end of the season, ending 27 years as Essendon senior coach.

In Sheedy's last home game as coach against Richmond in Round 21 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, a near sell out crowd of 88,468 people turned out to farewell the great man Sheedy and James Hird. Although Essendon were defeated by a few goals, Sheedy received a standing ovation as left the field for the last time.

Sheedy's passion for coaching continued and he vowed to pursue a coaching career at another club but in the interim accepted an ambassadorial position with the AFL.

Kevin Mark Sheedy (born 21 October 1959 in Builth Wells, Wales) is a retired Welsh born footballer of Irish descent who is best remembered for being the first choice left winger in Everton's hugely successful 1980s side. He was also a member of the Republic of Ireland national football team of this era, and is now an academy coach for Everton.

Renowned for his left foot, he was also a dead-ball specialist, whether scoring from free-kicks or from the penalty spot.

Sheedy started his career with Hereford United, followed by a short spell with Liverpool, but played just three competitive games in four years and was sold to Everton for £100,000 in 1982. At Everton he made 357 appearances (12 as substitute) and scored 97 goals. Sheedy's most notable achievements were as part of the 1984 Everton team that won the FA Cup, (although he missed the final through injury). In 1985 and 1987 he won the Football League Championship, and in 1985 the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Sheedy left Goodison Park in 1992 on a free transfer to join Newcastle United, and helped them win the Division One title (and promotion to the Premier League) in the 1992-93. He ended his career with Blackpool in the 1993-94 Division Two campaign, in which Blackpool avoided relegation.

Since retiring from playing, Sheedy has been assistant manager at Tranmere Rovers and Hartlepool United. He joined Everton's coaching staff in July 2006.

Despite his birthplace, Sheedy won 45 caps for the Republic of Ireland scoring nine goals, including one in a game in the 1990 World Cup against England.

He is also noted as the first-ever Republic of Ireland player to score a goal in the World Cup finals.