RTÉ Sport has named a shortlist of twelve potential Managers of the Year for the RTÉ Sports Awards to be broadcast on the night of 17th December.
The Awards being handed out on the night live on RTÉ One in front of an audience of Irish sports stars include RTÉ Sport Sportsperson of the Year, RTÉ Sport Team of the Year, RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year, and RTÉ Sport Young Sportsperson of the Year.
Last year the Awards took place under lockdown criteria with Rachael Blackmore taking the main award and Dominic Casey being awarded the Manager of the Year Award.
The Rowing boss is nominated again this year, one of eleven worthy men in the lineup but with one woman who may well steal the show.
This year’s nominees for the RTÉ Sport Manager of the Year are drawn from Boxing, Football, Rowing, Camogie, Rugby, Racing, and Gaelic Games:
ZAUR ANTIA
Under the Georgian’s guidance, Ireland’s boxers have had a year of unprecedented success, having won two World gold medals, four European golds, three European silvers and two European bronzes. There were also seven medals taken home from the European U22s by Antia’s young talents.
STEPHEN BRADLEY
Shamrock Rovers manager Bradley has overseen a period of great success for the Hoops and secured three-in-a-row league titles with two games to spare. The 37-year-old also returned European football to Tallaght as they qualified for the group stages of the Europa Conference League.
BRIAN DOWLING
Kilkenny camogie boss Dowling has brought great success to Kilkenny since his appointment after the 2019 season. He guided the Cats to All-Ireland success in 2020, and once again this year, after a dramatic final against rivals Cork.
DOMINIC CASEY
Casey’s lightweight charges produced the goods again. Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy claimed lightweight double sculls World and European golds, while his lightweight women’s duo brought home a bronze medal in the World Championships in Czech Republic.
ANDY FARRELL
A respectable second place finish in the Six Nations was the catalyst for Andy Farrell’s men to climb to be the number one rugby team in the World, in a year that brought a first ever series win in New Zealand, plus Autumn international victories over World champions South Africa, as well as Australia.
JOHN KIELY
John Kiely’s men secured their fourth successive Munster hurling crown, and then went on to deliver their first ever three-in-a-row of senior All-Ireland hurling titles by beating Kilkenny in the final.
WILLIE MULLINS
The Closutton machine delivered a record 10 winners at the Cheltenham festival, including five on the final day, and was named Champion Trainer for an incredible 16th time having saddled over 200 winners.
EAMONN MURRAY
The now departed Meath Ladies Football manager oversaw the Royals greatest ever period of success, claiming the division one league title in the spring, and then retaining their All-Ireland title against Kerry.
RONAN O’GARA
La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara saw his team win a first ever European Cup in a dramatic final against Leinster, and now joins Leo Cullen and Toulouse boss Ugo Mola as the only men to win the trophy as a player and a coach.
JACK O’CONNOR
In his third spell in charge, the Kerry Manager delivered a first All-Ireland title for the Kingdom in eight years, and earlier in the year also took home the division 1 league title to herald a new era of success for the county.
VERA PAUW
The Republic of Ireland’s Dutch Manager masterminded a first ever major tournament qualification, reaching the World Cup in Australia/New Zealand next summer after a 1-0 playoff win over Scotland in Glasgow.
