He's back: McGuinness is Donegal manager again with backroom team announced

Jim McGuinness’s second coming as Donegal senior team manager has been rubber-stamped with two of this All-Ireland winners of 2012 joining the backroom team.

McGuinness will be joined by Neil McGee and Colm Anthony McFadden, who both were part of the side who defeated Mayo in the 2012 All-Ireland final and Luke Barrett, the Donegal minor manager, will be part of the team working on analysis

The name of McGuinness, who was not in attendance at the Donegal GAA Centre in Convoy, was put before club delegates at a hastily-arranged meeting tonight.

Donegal GAA said: "Donegal GAA is delighted to announce the appointment of Jim McGuinness as Senior Football team manager, following a meeting of Donegal County Committee. This is an exciting time for all Donegal GAA Supporters and Donegal people at home and abroad. CLG Dhún na nGall wish Jim, his backroom team, and the players every success for the future. The term will be for three years with an option for a fourth."

The next full meeting of the county committee is not scheduled until September 4 with tonight's specially convened as a one-item agenda.  Clubs were told the meeting was for 'an update on the deliberations of the Senior Football Manager’s Selection Committee’.

Last month, the Donegal County Board appointed a five-man committee to find a new manager, with 1992 All-Ireland winners Martin McHugh and Anthony Molloy joined by county chairman, Fergus McGee; county secretary, Declan Martin; and Anthony Doogan from Moville GAA club.

Paddy Carr was appointed last October and was gone before the deadrubber last fixture in Roscommon with Aidan O’Rourke stepping in on a caretaker role. Donegal limped out of Ulster at the first hurdle and then in the new-look All-Ireland series lost out to Derry before restoring some pride with victories over both Clare and Monaghan.

However, Donegal were comfortably beaten by Tyrone 1-18 to 0-13 in the preliminary All-Ireland quarter-final and the following day O’Rourke, who was assisted by former Derry forward Paddy Bradley, stepped aside.

Off the field, Donegal football is in disarray following the fall of its Academy, from which its head Karl Lacey resigned citing a lack of support from the county board. Lacey was promptly followed out the door by the entire coaching and support staff, which is in the region of 40. 

An independent review followed, which said Donegal had 14 'high-risk' findings relating to governance and financial management, describing them as “significant weaknesses”.

McGuinness previously took the position in the wake of taking the Donegal U-21’s to the 2010 Ulster championship and All-Ireland final and his four years as senior team boss between 2011 and 2014 brought success.

Donegal won Ulster SFC crowns in 2011, 2012 and 2014, as well as the All-Ireland SFC crown in 2012 and they lost out in the 2014 final.

The Glenties man began working as a performance consultant with Celtic FC in 2012. He worked at Beijing Sinbo Guoan, ending his time in China in January 2018. After a short spell as the head coach of Charlotte Independence, McGuinness returned home. He completed his Uefa Pro Licences in December.

McGuinness was part of the backroom team at Derry City Under-19s, who won the Enda McGuill Cup in 2021 and has been linked to several roles since leaving the Donegal hotseat nine years ago, but was pursuing a career in coaching football.