Thomas Donnelly (football manager)

Thomas Donnelly (born in Kildare Town) is an Irish football manager. He was most recently employed by Kildare County until April 2009.

Playing career

Donnelly played with Kildare Town before going on to play with the Defence Forces for eight or nine years. At the Defence Forces he got the opportunity to play against French internationals

Managerial career

Donnelly was always interested in the coaching side, more so than playing. He managed Artillery Rangers youths when he was 22, they were based in Kildare army barracks. Then he went playing in Dublin and then Newbridge Town asked him to come and manage them when he was 26. He was player/manager with them and that year they got promoted and got to the cup final but then he packed in football for a year or two to concentrate on getting his coaching badges.^[1]

After he received his badges he got the job of managing the Kildare County U21's which he took to the final of the Enda McGuill Cup in 2006. He got his chance to manager the Kildare County first team in 2009. His reign was short lived however. Donnelly departed after a 5-1 defeat to fellow relegation contenders monaghan after just 9 games in charge.^[2]

Honours

• Enda McGuill Cup Runners Up
  • Kildare County - 2006

References