Paul Hegarty (Irish footballer)
Encyclopedia
Paul Hegarty is a past Irish footballer and the current manager of League of Ireland First Division club Finn Harps.
where he made his League of Ireland debut on the 13th of September 1987. He later moved to Finn Harps F.C.
before returning to Derry
to play once more with City and Coleraine F.C.
. He also had a spell at Institute F.C.
as a player-manager. Hegarty was known throughout Ireland as one of the toughest tackling midfielders of his era.
, finish second in the League of Ireland
and enjoyed an historic run in the UEFA Cup
, being eliminated in the First Round by Paris St. Germain. On 15 December 2006 Hegarty announced that he would be moving on from his role as assistant manager at Derry due to difficulties in relation to Pat Fenlon's
new training schedules for the 2007 season. With the managerial slot left empty at Finn Harps since Anthony Gorman's
departure, Hegarty looked like the favourite to take the role at Finn Park
.http://www.derryjournal.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3422&ArticleID=1932833 On 20 December, 2006 Hegarty was named the new boss at Finn Harps after signing a two-year deal with the club.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6196141.stm
Hegarty's touchline demeanour is well known to Irish football fans, and his high pitched shouted instructions can be heard on many a Friday night around Finn Park. Whilst in his first season he won promotion with Finn Harps he has presided over their immediate return to the First Division of the League of Ireland.
Playing career
He played youth football in the Irish Ulster Senior League before signing with Derry CityDerry City F.C.
Derry City Football Club is a professional football club based in Derry, Northern Ireland. It plays in the League of Ireland Premier Division...
where he made his League of Ireland debut on the 13th of September 1987. He later moved to Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps F.C.
Finn Harps Football Club are a professional Irish football club playing in the First Division of the League of Ireland. The club was founded in 1954 and elected to the league in 1969. They hail from Ballybofey, County Donegal and play their home matches at Finn Park. The club's colours are blue...
before returning to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to play once more with City and Coleraine F.C.
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...
. He also had a spell at Institute F.C.
Institute F.C.
Institute F.C. is a Northern Irish intermediate football club who play in IFA Championship 1.The club, founded in 1905, are based in the Drumahoe area of Derry and play their home matches at the Riverside Stadium in the YMCA Grounds...
as a player-manager. Hegarty was known throughout Ireland as one of the toughest tackling midfielders of his era.
Managerial and Coaching
Before becoming the assistant manager to Stephen Kenny at Derry City in 2005, Hegarty had a spell of management at Institute. His fiery temper and desire for his team to do well was evident during every game. This driven and determined attitude is reminiscent of the character Hegarty displayed on the field as a player. While at Derry, Hegarty was ever present on the sidelines as the club went on to win the FAI CupFAI Cup
The Football Association of Ireland Challenge Cup, known as the FAI Ford Cup for sponsorship reasons, is a knock-out association football competition contested annually by teams from the Republic of Ireland...
, finish second in the League of Ireland
League of Ireland
The League of Ireland is the national association football league of the Republic of Ireland. Founded in 1921, as a league of eight clubs, it has expanded over time into a two-tiered league of 22 clubs. It is currently split into the League of Ireland Premier Division and the League of Ireland...
and enjoyed an historic run in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, being eliminated in the First Round by Paris St. Germain. On 15 December 2006 Hegarty announced that he would be moving on from his role as assistant manager at Derry due to difficulties in relation to Pat Fenlon's
Pat Fenlon
Patrick "Pat" "Nutsy" Fenlon is an Irish former footballer and manager. He is currently in charge of Scottish Premier League club Hibernian....
new training schedules for the 2007 season. With the managerial slot left empty at Finn Harps since Anthony Gorman's
Anthony Gorman
Anthony "Tony" Gorman is the former player-manager of Finn Harps F.C. and former assistant manager of Derry City F.C. He is currently playing for his hometown club Letterkenny Rovers in the Ulster Senior League.-Player:...
departure, Hegarty looked like the favourite to take the role at Finn Park
Finn Park
Finn Park is a football stadium in Ballybofey, Ireland, the home of League of Ireland Premier Division team Finn Harps F.C., and has a capacity of 7,500 with 400 seats...
.http://www.derryjournal.com/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=3422&ArticleID=1932833 On 20 December, 2006 Hegarty was named the new boss at Finn Harps after signing a two-year deal with the club.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/irish/6196141.stm
Hegarty's touchline demeanour is well known to Irish football fans, and his high pitched shouted instructions can be heard on many a Friday night around Finn Park. Whilst in his first season he won promotion with Finn Harps he has presided over their immediate return to the First Division of the League of Ireland.