Mick O'Dwyer managed Kerry to 8 All-Ireland SFCs between 1975 and 1986.Brian Cody managed Kilkenny to 11 All-Ireland SHCs between 2000 and 2015.
In Gaelic games, a manager or (in Irish) bainisteoir is involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of a team.[1][2] The role entails the application of sport tactics and strategies during the game itself, and usually entails substitution of players and other such actions as needed. At games, the manager may sometimes wear a bib with the word "manager" or "bainisteoir" adorning it.[2][3] Many managers were former players themselves, and are assisted in coaching the team by a group of selectors (in Irish roghnóirí).[4]
History
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.[5] This later played a role in changing the management structure of Gaelic Athletic Association teams as the Dublinfootball revival of the 1970s evolved.[5] 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.[6] It was the first time in the GAA's history that a manager with substantial powers was appointed.[6] Other counties later followed suit by having a single manager supported by a smaller selection panel.[citation needed] While the GAA's current management and coaching model was influenced by other sports (like soccer), several differences with those sports do remain.[7]
During the 1970s and 1980s, a number of priests held the role of manager - though this is rare as of the 21st century.[8]
Appointment
The Gaelic Athletic Association publishes and maintains a set of guidelines for the appointment of managers.[9] Managers of county teams can be appointed from within that county - though it is not uncommon for managers to be "brought in" from elsewhere.[10]
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.[11] 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.[11] Changes to these rules, including the "effective eradication of the Maor Foirne role", were agreed following the 2021 GAA Congress.[12][13]
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.[14]
^ abNeville, Steve (18 April 2018). "Harry Redknapp has a new job in Ireland". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 4 September 2018. Retrieved 18 April 2018. As part of a new mini-series, AIB's The Toughest Rivalry, Redknapp will be donning the bainisteoir's bib with Castlehaven GAA.
^ abGAA Rule Book - Official Guide - Part 2(PDF) (Report). GAA. 2016. p. 22. Retrieved 21 September 2018. 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
