Jim McDonagh

Summary

Seamus Martin McDonagh (born 6 October 1952), known as Jim McDonagh, is a former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He made more than 400 appearances in the English leagues. Born in England, he won 25 caps for Ireland. He then became a goalkeeping coach, working with numerous clubs in the English game until joining Martin O'Neill's coaching team at Sunderland in 2011. In November 2013 he was appointed to the same role with the Republic of Ireland national team by O'Neill, and in 2019 he followed O'Neill to Nottingham Forest as head goalkeeping coach

Jim McDonagh
Jim McDonagh with Vojtech Christov in 1981
Personal information
Full name Seamus Martin McDonagh
Date of birth (1952-10-06) 6 October 1952 (age 71)
Place of birth Rotherham, England
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Mansfield Town
(head goalkeeping coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1976 Rotherham United 121 (0)
1973Manchester United (loan) 0 (0)
1976–1980 Bolton Wanderers 161 (0)
1980–1981 Everton 40 (0)
1981–1983 Bolton Wanderers 81 (1)
1983–1985 Notts County 35 (0)
1984Birmingham City (loan) 1 (0)
1985Gillingham (loan) 10 (0)
1985Sunderland (loan) 7 (0)
1985–1987 Wichita Wings (indoor)
1987 Scarborough 9 (0)
1987–1988Huddersfield Town (loan) 6 (0)
1988–1989 Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
1988–1989 Galway United 20 (0)
1989–1990 Spalding United
1990 Grantham Town 1 (0)
1990–1991 Telford United 6 (0)
1991–1993 Grantham Town
1993–1994 Arnold Town 9 (0)
Total 507 (1)
International career
1981–1985 Republic of Ireland 25 (0)
Managerial career
1988–1989 Galway United
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Playing career edit

McDonagh started his career at his hometown club Rotherham United, and spent a month on loan at Manchester United in 1973, before joining Bolton Wanderers, initially on loan, taking over from the recently departed Barry Siddall. An ever-present during the Second Division Championship-winning side of 1977–78, he set a club record of conceding only 33 goals in a 42-match season. For the following two seasons in the top flight he was also an ever-present and did well enough for Everton to sign him for £250,000 when Bolton were relegated in 1979–80. Within a year Neville Southall had come through the ranks at Everton and McDonagh found himself back at Bolton. Another relegation followed in 1982–83, even with McDonagh managing to score a goal, and he moved on to Notts County for two seasons before wandering around a further six English clubs as well as teams in the USA. It was while he was at Bolton that he received the first of 25 caps for Ireland. He qualified to play for Ireland through his Father Michael who came from Midfield in Co. Mayo.

Coaching career edit

He was appointed player/manager of Galway United in 1988 when they were in the relegation zone. Despite helping save the club from relegation his contract was unilaterally terminated by United in May 1989.[1]

McDonagh went on to have coaching positions at clubs including Coventry City, Mansfield Town, Nottingham Forest, Millwall, Rotherham United, Leicester City, Aston Villa, Plymouth Argyle and Hull City. He was appointed Sunderland's first-team goalkeeping coach by Martin O'Neill on 6 December 2011.[2] O'Neill then appointed him to the same role with the Republic of Ireland national team in November 2013.[3] On 21 November 2018, O'Neill and his backroom staff parted company with the FAI,[4] and in January 2019, McDonagh followed O'Neill to Nottingham Forest as head goalkeeping coach.[5]

See also edit

References edit

General

  • Ponting, Ivan; Hugman, Barry (1994). The Concise Post War History of Bolton Wanderers. Repvern Publishing. ISBN 1-869833-27-9.

Specific

  1. ^ "McDonagh contract ended". The Irish Times. 10 May 1989. p. 2. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  2. ^ "O'Neill confirms backroom additions". Sunderland AFC. 6 December 2011. Archived from the original on 12 July 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  3. ^ "Alan Kelly replaced as Republic goalkeeping coach". BBC Sport. 8 November 2013. Retrieved 13 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane leave Republic of Ireland roles". BBC Sport. 21 November 2018. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
  5. ^ Mackey, Liam (16 January 2019). "Nottingham Forest hail return of 'miracle man' O'Neill". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 14 May 2019.

External links edit

  • Profile on F.A.I. website