manager (Gaelic games)

The term "manager" emerged in the 1970s owing to the influence of the BBC programme Match of the Day. A portion of the east coast of Ireland, including Dublin, was able to receive the channel and programme, which showed coverage of association football, where "manager" was the common term used for the coach or supervisor of the team.{{cite news |title=Martin Breheny: Dubs train sights on Heffo's heroes - Independent.ie |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/martin-breheny-dubs-train-sights-on-heffos-heroes-35055764.html |access-date=16 June 2018 |work=Independent.ie |archive-url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/martin-breheny-dubs-train-sights-on-heffos-heroes-35055764.html |archive-date=17 September 2016 |language=en}} This later played a role in changing the management structure of Gaelic Athletic Association teams as the Dublin football revival of the 1970s evolved. Throughout the history of the GAA clubs and teams and were often influenced by selection panels. By the early 1970s, the GAA began to take note of the merits of having an individual soccer-style manager accompanied by assistants. In 1973 the Dublin County Board appointed Kevin Heffernan to lead their football team.{{cite news |title=The man who changed the face of Gaelic football - Independent.ie |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/the-man-who-changed-the-face-of-gaelic-football-29023049.html |access-date=16 June 2018 |work=Independent.ie |archive-url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/the-man-who-changed-the-face-of-gaelic-football-29023049.html|archive-date=26 January 2013 |language=en}} It was the first time in the GAA's history that a manager with substantial powers was appointed. Other counties later followed suit by having a single manager supported by a smaller selection panel.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} While the GAA's current management and coaching model was influenced by other sports (like soccer), several differences with those sports do remain.{{cite web|url = https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/stevie-mcdonnell-superbly-explains-differences-gaa-coaches-managers-124909 | title = Stevie McDonnell superbly explains differences between GAA coaches and managers | access-date = 21 September 2018 | date = 27 May 2017 | publisher = Joe.ie }}

During the 1970s and 1980s, a number of priests held the role of manager - though this is rare as of the 21st century.{{cite news|url=https://www.balls.ie/hurling/ranking-top-5-priest-gaa-managers-time-159561|title=Ranking The Top 5 Priest GAA Managers Of All Time|date=28 August 2022}}

The Gaelic Athletic Association publishes and maintains a set of guidelines for the appointment of managers.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/the-gaas-ninestep-guide-for-appointing-a-manager-26575842.html | publisher = Independent News & Media | title = The GAA's nine-step guide for appointing a manager | date = 23 October 2009 | access-date = 21 September 2018 }} Managers of county teams can be appointed from within that county - though it is not uncommon for managers to be "brought in" from elsewhere.{{cite web|url = https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/the-import-and-export-business-28905488.html | publisher = Independent News & Media | title = The import and export business | access-date = 30 September 2018 | date = 24 November 2012 }}

As of 2016, GAA rules also allowed for a manager (in Irish bainisteoir) to be supported by a single assistant manager (in Irish maor foirne) during games.{{cite report|url = https://learning.gaa.ie/sites/default/files/2016%20Official%20Guide%20-%20Part%202.pdf | publisher = GAA | title = GAA Rule Book - Official Guide - Part 2 | date = 2016 | page = 22 | quote = one team official (Maor Foirne, who is an assistant to the Bainisteoir), may [..] make changes and/or to give instructions to players. [..] A Selector is permitted to act as Maor Foirne | access-date = 21 September 2018}} Under GAA rules, an assistant manager to a Gaelic football or hurling team could also be a member of the team's panel of selectors, but not be one of the team's panel of players. Changes to these rules, including the "effective eradication of the Maor Foirne role", were agreed following the 2021 GAA Congress.{{cite web|url = https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2021/0227/1199755-hurling-to-trial-sin-bin-as-part-of-cynicism-crackdown/ | website = rte.ie | title = Hurling to trial sin bin as part of cynicism crackdown | date = 27 February 2021 | accessdate = 17 October 2022 }}{{cite web|url = https://www.hoganstand.com/Article/Index/315805 | website = hoganstand.com | title = Congress: End of the line for 'maor foirne' and Lucky 13 for teams | date = 27 February 2021 | accessdate = 17 October 2022 }}

{{see|List of All-Ireland Senior Football Championship winning managers|List of All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship winning managers}}

In inter-county football, Mick O'Dwyer managed 4 different inter-county teams, including leading Kerry to 8 All-Ireland Championship titles. Jim Gavin is the second-most successful inter-county manager, with 6 All-Ireland titles for Dublin - including a record-breaking 5 in a row between 2015 and 2019.{{cite web|url = https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/jim-gavin-to-be-awarded-freedom-of-the-city-of-dublin-952607.html | publisher = Irish Examiner | title = Jim Gavin to be awarded freedom of the city of Dublin | date = 23 September 2019 | first = Steve |last = Neville | access-date = 5 November 2019 }}

In inter-county hurling, the manager with the most championship wins is Kilkenny's Brian Cody, with 15 Provincial Championship and 11 All-Ireland Championship titles.{{cite web |date=9 April 2018 |title=Brian Cody oversees the 20th national title of his reign |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/hurling/brian-cody-oversees-the-20th-national-title-of-his-reign-1.3454922 |access-date=30 September 2018 |publisher=Irish Times}}{{cite web |date=4 July 2016 |title=Brian Cody has now won more provincial senior titles than any other GAA manager |url=http://www.the42.ie/brian-cody-kilkenny-5-2860327-Jul2016/ |access-date=30 September 2018 |publisher=The42.ie}} Tommy Maher, also of Kilkenny, has the second-most All-Ireland hurling championship wins, with 7 titles.{{cite web |date=26 March 2015 |title=Godfather of Kilkenny hurling Fr Tommy Maher dies aged 92 |url=https://www.sportsjoe.ie/gaa/godfather-of-kilkenny-hurling-fr-tommy-maher-dies-aged-92-19007 |access-date=30 September 2018 |publisher=Joe.ie}}

• List of Gaelic football managers
• List of hurling managers

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2020/1208/1183055-gaa-managers-sean-boylan-brian-cody-mickey-harte-jim-mcguinness-davy-fitzgerald/ RTÉ: "How GAA managers have changed the landscape of the game"], by Dr Siobhán Doyle of TU Dublin

Category:Gaelic games terminology

Category:Sports coaches