Jim Hagan
Encyclopedia
Jim Hagan is a Northern Irish
former professional footballer
and football club manager. He was born in Monkstown
.
Hagan began his career in Northern Ireland with Larne
and was voted Ulster young player of the year in the 1975-76 season. While playing for Larne he also worked as a booking clerk for the ferries between Larne
and Stranraer
in Scotland. His form with Larne earned him a call-up to Danny Blanchflower
's Northern Ireland
squad. However, although he played for Northern Ireland against Glentoran
in a testimonial for Bobby McGregor in May 1977 he never made a full international appearance.
Hagan joined Coventry City
from Larne
in November 1977 for a fee of £25,000, making 13 league appearances the following season. He struggled to establish himself at Highfield Road
and joined Torquay United
on loan in September 1979 and was loaned to NASL
side Detroit Express
in March 1980. He joined Hong Kong side Seiko in October 1980 on an extended loan and helped the club to a clean-sweep of the Hong Kong League
, Cup
and Senior Cup. He returned to Coventry in July 1981, making three further league appearances and was included by Billy Bingham
in Northern Ireland's provisional forty man squad for the 1982 World Cup Finals
, but was cut when the final squad was announced.
Hagan was released by Coventry at the end of the 1981-82 season and in May 1982 joined local rivals Birmingham City
. He quickly established himself in the first team and was a regular member of the sides both promoted to and relegated from the top flight over the next five years.
In 1987 Hagan joined newly promoted Spanish Primera Liga side Celta Vigo
. At the end of his first season in Spain, Celta had finished in the top half of the table and Hagan was named Overseas Players of the Year, despite competition from the likes of Gary Lineker
. Hagan returned to Larne in August 1989, moving to Colchester United
in November 1989. He played only twice for the Layer Road
side and returned to Larne from where he left to join Swedish side IK Oddevold
in May 1990.
In May 1991 Hagan returned to Northern Ireland and was appointed as player-manager of Ballymena United
. On leaving he played briefly for Carrick Rangers and had a short and unsuccessful spell in charge of Larne in 1994. He subsequently played for Crusaders
before ending his playing career with Coleraine
in December 1995.
By the 2000-01 season Hagan had become youth development officer at Sunderland
. He subsequently returned to Larne as Youth Development Officer and became assistant manager under Kenny Shiels
in October 2005. In May 2006, Hagan was appointed as manager. However, he was sacked in November 2006 with Larne struggling in the league.
He is currently manager of Larne amateur outfit Wellington Rec. They pulled off a major upset in August 2009 after beating Carrick Rangers 4-3 in the Steel and Sons Cup.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
former professional footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
and football club manager. He was born in Monkstown
Monkstown, County Antrim
Monkstown is the name of a townland and electoral ward in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It is within the urban area called Newtownabbey and the wider Newtownabbey Borough. The townland was previously called Ballynamanagh...
.
Hagan began his career in Northern Ireland with Larne
Larne F.C.
Larne F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Larne and plays its home matches at Inver Park. Club colours are red and white...
and was voted Ulster young player of the year in the 1975-76 season. While playing for Larne he also worked as a booking clerk for the ferries between Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
and Stranraer
Stranraer
Stranraer is a town in the southwest of Scotland. It lies in the west of Dumfries and Galloway and in the county of Wigtownshire.Stranraer lies on the shores of Loch Ryan on the northern side of the isthmus joining the Rhins of Galloway to the mainland...
in Scotland. His form with Larne earned him a call-up to Danny Blanchflower
Danny Blanchflower
Robert Dennis "Danny" Blanchflower was a former Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager, and journalist who captained Tottenham Hotspur F.C. during its double-winning season of 1961. He was ranked as the greatest player in Spurs history by The Times in 2009...
's Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
squad. However, although he played for Northern Ireland against Glentoran
Glentoran F.C.
Glentoran F.C. is a semi-professional, football club in Northern Ireland. The club was founded in 1882 and plays its home games at the Oval in east Belfast. Club colours are green, red, and black.Glentoran's biggest rivals are Linfield...
in a testimonial for Bobby McGregor in May 1977 he never made a full international appearance.
Hagan joined Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
from Larne
Larne F.C.
Larne F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Larne and plays its home matches at Inver Park. Club colours are red and white...
in November 1977 for a fee of £25,000, making 13 league appearances the following season. He struggled to establish himself at Highfield Road
Highfield Road
The Highfield Road Stadium was a football stadium in the city of Coventry, England. It was the home ground for Coventry City F.C. until the club moved to the new Ricoh Arena after the 2005-06 season...
and joined Torquay United
Torquay United F.C.
Torquay United Football Club, nicknamed the Gulls, are an English association football club based in the tourist resort town of Torquay, Devon. They played in the Conference National in 2008–09, but were promoted to Football League Two after a 2–0 win over Cambridge United on 17 May 2009 at Wembley...
on loan in September 1979 and was loaned to NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
side Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
in March 1980. He joined Hong Kong side Seiko in October 1980 on an extended loan and helped the club to a clean-sweep of the Hong Kong League
Hong Kong football league
Tracing back to early 20th century, the football league in Hong Kong is probably the oldest professional league in Asia. While most records before the Second World War have been lost and the current Hong Kong Football Association only recognises the match results since its establishment in 1945...
, Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup
Hong Kong FA Cup is a knockout cup competition in Hong Kong football, run by and named after The Hong Kong Football Association. The first edition of the competition was held in 1975, before then the cup was known as the Golden Jubilee Cup. The current season is the 33rd edition of the event...
and Senior Cup. He returned to Coventry in July 1981, making three further league appearances and was included by Billy Bingham
Billy Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
in Northern Ireland's provisional forty man squad for the 1982 World Cup Finals
1982 FIFA World Cup
The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th FIFA World Cup, was held in Spain from 13 June to 11 July. The tournament was won by Italy, after defeating West Germany 3–1 in the final.-Host selection:...
, but was cut when the final squad was announced.
Hagan was released by Coventry at the end of the 1981-82 season and in May 1982 joined local rivals Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
. He quickly established himself in the first team and was a regular member of the sides both promoted to and relegated from the top flight over the next five years.
In 1987 Hagan joined newly promoted Spanish Primera Liga side Celta Vigo
Celta de Vigo
Real Club Celta de Vigo , simply referred to as Celta Vigo, is a Spanish professional football club based in Vigo, Galicia, currently playing in the Segunda División. It was founded on March 28, 1923 following the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Fortuna Foot-ball Club.Nicknamed Los Celestes ,...
. At the end of his first season in Spain, Celta had finished in the top half of the table and Hagan was named Overseas Players of the Year, despite competition from the likes of Gary Lineker
Gary Lineker
Gary Winston Lineker, OBE , is a former English footballer, who played as a striker. He is a sports broadcaster for the BBC, Al Jazeera Sports and Eredivisie Live...
. Hagan returned to Larne in August 1989, moving to Colchester United
Colchester United F.C.
Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910....
in November 1989. He played only twice for the Layer Road
Layer Road
Layer Road was a Football League stadium in Colchester, England. It was only used for football matches and was the home ground of Colchester United before being replaced by the Weston Homes Community Stadium. The stadium held spectators and was built in 1907, originally for use by Colchester Town...
side and returned to Larne from where he left to join Swedish side IK Oddevold
IK Oddevold
IK Oddevold is a Swedish football club located in Uddevalla, the name "Oddevold" being an older form of Uddevalla. The club, formed on 3 July 1932, currently plays in Sweden's third-flight league, Division 1...
in May 1990.
In May 1991 Hagan returned to Northern Ireland and was appointed as player-manager of Ballymena United
Ballymena United F.C.
Ballymena United, is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club playing in the IFA Premiership. The club hails from the town of Ballymena, County Antrim and plays its home matches at Ballymena Showgrounds. Club colours are sky blue and white. Away Colours are Red and BlackThe club was...
. On leaving he played briefly for Carrick Rangers and had a short and unsuccessful spell in charge of Larne in 1994. He subsequently played for Crusaders
Crusaders F.C.
Crusaders Football Club is a semi-professional, Northern Irish association football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1898, hails from Belfast and plays its home matches at Seaview. Club colours are red and black. The current manager is Stephen Baxter, appointed in 2005...
before ending his playing career with Coleraine
Coleraine F.C.
Coleraine F.C. is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, playing in the IFA Premiership. The club, founded in 1927, hails from Coleraine, County Londonderry and plays its home matches at the Showgrounds. Club colours are blue and white...
in December 1995.
By the 2000-01 season Hagan had become youth development officer at Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
. He subsequently returned to Larne as Youth Development Officer and became assistant manager under Kenny Shiels
Kenny Shiels
Kenny Shiels is a Northern Irish former football player and current manager. He is manager of Scottish Premier League club Kilmarnock.-Player:...
in October 2005. In May 2006, Hagan was appointed as manager. However, he was sacked in November 2006 with Larne struggling in the league.
He is currently manager of Larne amateur outfit Wellington Rec. They pulled off a major upset in August 2009 after beating Carrick Rangers 4-3 in the Steel and Sons Cup.