Dublin Football manager Jim Gavin yesterday became the first ‘boss’ from the capital to win the prestigious Phillips Ireland Sports Manager of the Year Award.
The presentation took place at the Shelbourne Hotel and saw a host of leading lights from coaching across a multitude of sports.
Davy Fitzgerald of Clare Hurling was a front runner for the award, as well as Philip Doyle, manager of the Irish Women’s Rugby team that landed a first ever Grand Slam in March, and Willie Mullins, straight off a plane from Hong Kong, who led the charge in Ireland’s most successful ever assault on the Cheltenham Festival last March.
This was the 8th time a Gaelic football manager has won the award following on from Mickey Harte of Tyrone on 2005, Joe Kernan of Armagh in 2002, Sean Boylan of Meath in 1999, Brian McEniff of Donegal in 1992, Pete McGrath of Down in 1991, Billy Morgan of Cork in 1990 and Mick O’Dwyer of Kerry a full 30 years ago.
The parallels between management in sport and in business are clear and obvious if not yet quite enough recognised on the latter side. The ability to manage competing individuals and to bond them as a team; the need to make quick decisions under extreme pressure and the pressure of ultimately being the one to carry the can if things do not work out are a very intense microcosm of business life.
It is especially the case in amateur sport where the manager like the players has to return to a day job on Monday after the highs of a sporting weekend. Jim Gavin is a member of the defence forces while his predecessor in Dublin Pat Gilroy doubled up in his time in charge as Chief Executive of Dalkia.
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