John McDonnell (footballer)
Encyclopedia
John McDonnell is an Irish
football former manager and player and current assistant manager of the Faroe Islands national football team
.
Nicknamed Johnny Mac, he had an accomplished career as a footballer before entering management. The majority of his career was spent at St. Pats and he captained the side to the 1996 League of Ireland
Championship. He also won 1 Inter League cap while with Pats.
, McDonnell started his career with Shamrock Rovers in the 1983/84 season (5 total appearances), followed by Home Farm F.C.
, Drogheda United
before signing for Pats. After winning the league there he signed back for Rovers for the 1991/92 where he scored once in 34 appearances.
He then signed back for another spell at Richmond Park
where he captained the side to the League triumph in the 1995/96 season under mananger Brian Kerr (football manager). Despite missing out on the Champions League
due to then format in the first ever European tie at Richmond Park McDonnell scored in the UEFA Cup
tie with SK Slovan Bratislava
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1996/0719/Pg019.html#Ar01907:09A7490DD7580A336011037912936013337805636108437908436109D3791106B513A6CB.
He then moved to Newry Town. It was with the Northern Irish
club that he made the first step into management, becoming player-manager in 1998.
In this first ever season in European competition, Newry Town (as they were then known) were drawn against the Croatia
side Hrvatski Dragovoljac. A 1-0 defeat in Croatia was followed by a historic 2-0 win at home to send the club into the second round. There they met Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg
. Again, Newry were drawn away in the first leg, coming away with a respectable 2-0 defeat to the German professionals. A 1-0 win at home wasn't enough to force extra time but the side had exceeded expectations in the tournament.
He resigned in September 1999.
at then league champions Shelbourne FC. McDonnell was assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national team
Under 20s at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships.
In 2004, when Eamonn Collins
resigned as St Pats manager, the club turned to its former captain and firm fans' favourite, McDonnell, to turn around the fortunes of the ailing Dublin giant. (Ironically Collins would take McDonnell's job as Pat Fenlon's assistant.) His side initially struggled and only a late burst at the end of the 2005 season saw St. Pats saved from a humiliating relegation. For the 2006 season, he assembled practically a whole new squad and reached the final of the FAI Cup
losing to Derry City 4-3. He then guided Pats to their best ever European run in the UEFA Cup in the 2008/2009 season where they qualified for the first round proper after eliminating JFK Olimps Riga
and IF Elfsborg
.
He is the first St Pats player to win the League of Ireland
, score and manage the club in European competition.
In January 2009 he departed as St. Patricks Athletic manager. He was then linked with the Assistant Manager position at Leeds United, the Manager position at Cork City FC and manager positions at League 2 sides Barnet
and Bournemouth
.
In September 2009 he returned to Irish League
side Newry City F.C.
as manager following the resignation of Gerry Flynn. In March 2010 he resigned http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/8566482.stm. In April 2010, he was appointed Assistant Manager of the Faroe Islands
, by manager Brian Kerr
, his former colleague at St Pat's.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
football former manager and player and current assistant manager of the Faroe Islands national football team
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
.
Nicknamed Johnny Mac, he had an accomplished career as a footballer before entering management. The majority of his career was spent at St. Pats and he captained the side to the 1996 League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
Championship. He also won 1 Inter League cap while with Pats.
Playing career
As a defenderDefender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, McDonnell started his career with Shamrock Rovers in the 1983/84 season (5 total appearances), followed by Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm F.C.
Home Farm Football Club is an Irish football club based in Whitehall, Dublin. Originally founded in 1928, the club joined the League of Ireland in 1972 after merging with Drumcondra. Following this merger they were briefly known as Home Farm Drumcondra...
, Drogheda United
Drogheda United
Drogheda United Football Club is an Irish football club currently playing in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland. The club hails from Drogheda, Ireland and, since 1979, plays its home matches at Hunky Dorys Park....
before signing for Pats. After winning the league there he signed back for Rovers for the 1991/92 where he scored once in 34 appearances.
He then signed back for another spell at Richmond Park
Richmond Park
Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
where he captained the side to the League triumph in the 1995/96 season under mananger Brian Kerr (football manager). Despite missing out on the Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
due to then format in the first ever European tie at Richmond Park McDonnell scored in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
tie with SK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava
ŠK Slovan Bratislava is a football club based in Bratislava, Slovakia, that plays in the Corgoň liga. Founded as 1. ČsŠK Bratislava in 1919, the club changed its name to Slovan Bratislava in 1953...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1996/0719/Pg019.html#Ar01907:09A7490DD7580A336011037912936013337805636108437908436109D3791106B513A6CB.
He then moved to Newry Town. It was with the Northern Irish
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
club that he made the first step into management, becoming player-manager in 1998.
In this first ever season in European competition, Newry Town (as they were then known) were drawn against the Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
side Hrvatski Dragovoljac. A 1-0 defeat in Croatia was followed by a historic 2-0 win at home to send the club into the second round. There they met Bundesliga side MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg
MSV Duisburg is a German association football club based in Duisburg, North Rhine-Westphalia. Nicknamed "the Zebras" for their traditional striped jerseys, the club was one of the original members of the Bundesliga when it was formed in 1963.-Early years:...
. Again, Newry were drawn away in the first leg, coming away with a respectable 2-0 defeat to the German professionals. A 1-0 win at home wasn't enough to force extra time but the side had exceeded expectations in the tournament.
He resigned in September 1999.
Management career
Having previously been player-manager for Newry Town, the chance came to manage at newly founded League of Ireland side Dublin City FC then he was appointed him as assistant managerAssistant Manager
An assistant manager is an employee of an organization with manager's authority. Examples of this position can be found in retail and other service businesses where the need to have more than one member of daily operations management is important....
at then league champions Shelbourne FC. McDonnell was assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national team
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
Under 20s at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championships.
In 2004, when Eamonn Collins
Eamonn Collins (footballer)
Eamonn Anthony Stephen Collins is an Irish retired footballer and football manager, who is now a players' agent.In his playing career, he was the youngest player ever to turn out in a professional game in England, when he played for Blackpool in 1980, six weeks before his 15th birthday...
resigned as St Pats manager, the club turned to its former captain and firm fans' favourite, McDonnell, to turn around the fortunes of the ailing Dublin giant. (Ironically Collins would take McDonnell's job as Pat Fenlon's assistant.) His side initially struggled and only a late burst at the end of the 2005 season saw St. Pats saved from a humiliating relegation. For the 2006 season, he assembled practically a whole new squad and reached the final of the FAI Cup
FAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
losing to Derry City 4-3. He then guided Pats to their best ever European run in the UEFA Cup in the 2008/2009 season where they qualified for the first round proper after eliminating JFK Olimps Riga
JFK Olimps Riga
Olimps/RFS, founded as JFK Olimps is a Latvian football club, playing in the top division of Latvian football. The club is from the city of Riga...
and IF Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg
IF Elfsborg is a Swedish football club located in Borås. The club has won five national championship titles, the latest in 2006, and two national cup titles. Currently playing in the highest Swedish league, Allsvenskan. Elfsborg is based at Borås Arena...
.
He is the first St Pats player to win the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
, score and manage the club in European competition.
In January 2009 he departed as St. Patricks Athletic manager. He was then linked with the Assistant Manager position at Leeds United, the Manager position at Cork City FC and manager positions at League 2 sides Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
and Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
.
In September 2009 he returned to Irish League
IFA Premiership
The IFA Premiership – formerly the Irish Premier League, and before that the Irish Football League–and still known in popular parlance simply as the Irish League, is the national football league in Northern Ireland, and was historically the league for the whole of Ireland. Clubs in the league are...
side Newry City F.C.
Newry City F.C.
Newry City is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1923, is based in Newry, County Down and plays its home matches at The Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
as manager following the resignation of Gerry Flynn. In March 2010 he resigned http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/irish/8566482.stm. In April 2010, he was appointed Assistant Manager of the Faroe Islands
Faroe Islands national football team
The Faroe Islands national football team represents the Faroe Islands in association football and is controlled by the Faroe Islands Football Association, the governing body for football in the Faroe Islands. The Faroe Islands became a member of FIFA in 1988 and UEFA in 1990 and are the third...
, by manager Brian Kerr
Brian Kerr
Brian Kerr, is an Irish football manager, most noted for managing the Republic of Ireland national side. He was most recently the manager for the Faroe Islands national football team.-Early days:...
, his former colleague at St Pat's.
Honours
- League of IrelandLeague of IrelandThe League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
- St. Patrick's Athletic - 1989/90, 1995/96