Director Dunleavy

Welcome to Waterford, Johnny Dunleavy! The Donegalman is due to begin a new role as Director of Waterford FC’s academy today as part of the government-funded initiative to secure the underage system of each club for player development.

Two positions are being financed at each academy from a government fund of €3,000,000 annually. €43,500 has been made available per year for the Director of Academy with another €38,500 for a Head of Coaching at each club.

The Department of Sport set out strict criteria for filling the roles. The FAI’s Academy Development Manager Will Clarke oversaw an initial interview process for 54 applicants. Those candidates were then streamlined to a panel of 24. Each club must interview at least three members of that panel before choosing a Director of Academy. Only members of the national panel can be selected for the role.

 

 

34-year-old Dunleavy, who is based in Kilkenny, has now been chosen by Waterford FC to lead the academy. He follows in the footsteps of Gary Power, Ray Power, Gary Hunt and, most recently, Mike Geoghegan who retired in November. Women’s team manager Hunt has overseen the academy in an interim role for the past six months.

Dunleavy had a very successful career in football including captaining Cork City to the league title in 2017. As a midfielder and right back, he spent time with Wolverhampton Wanderers as an academy player, but the injuries which dogged his career curtailed his opportunities. He had seven seasons in Cork - adding two FAI Cups to that league win - as well as two seasons with Sligo Rovers and one at Finn Harps in his native Ballybofey.

 

 

Since his retirement as a player five years ago, the former Ireland Under-21 international has coached with Evergreen FC and worked as Soccer Development Manager at O’Reilly Sports. He has been a noticeable presence in the stand at every Waterford FC Premier Division game this season, though he will now have a formal reason to attend the RSC.

Others on the panel for directors roles include former Blues managers Keith Long and Stephen Henderson as well as Yvonne McGrath, previously of Waterford’s academy. Tramore-based Darren Murray and ex-Ireland women’s assistant coach Tom Elmes were others who may have been of interest to Waterford. Other notable names include Willie Boland, Filipo Giovagnoli, Paul Osam and Dave Rogers.

With four men’s and two women’s teams plus two years of pre-academy programmes, the Waterford FC academy has grown to an immense undertaking so full-time leadership is badly needed.  A separate process is ongoing to fill the position as Head of Coaching. Wishing John and all of the academy the greatest success for the years ahead.