Sorry to see him go & all Donegal folk will wish him well.

He has left football in Donegal, at both county & club level, in much better shape than when he arrived only 4 years ago & the benefits will carry on long after he's gone. At club level it is remarkable to see the transformation, with all senior clubs preparing & training in a way that was unthinkable recently.

What will be interesting now is to see how many players follow him out, but there is no doubt that a period of rebuilding will now take place.

MuckrossHead (Donegal) - Posts: 5028 - 04/10/2014 09:06:28    1659956

This was posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is similar it has been incorporated here.

SamOnErrigal
Posts: 644
Donegal

04/10/2014
09:28

Thanks to JIM MCGUINNESS


With the announcement of his leaving Donegal I want to pay tribute to the MAN.

As everybody knows he took Donegal football from a very low ebb to the very top. What a fantastic achievement by the man and what could have happened if he had got the job earlier. ( was it 2008 he first applied). He would have been inheriting more or less the same players but at a lot younger age. One All ireland 3 Ulster championships and a div two title. Best time ever in Donegal football and us fans had fantastic times. Put us up there with the best in the country, DUBLIN, Mayo Kerry Cork and TYRONE. Put a winning attitude into our team.
So I wish JIM all the best and at CELTIC it will be more or less home from home. Also a big thank you to all the players,panel members sponsors and anybody else who helped, thanks to everybody.
I would not worry about the future about Donegal football,I think we have a very bright future but I do think we will have to keep to Jim's standards and how he went about preparing the team. We can't afford to drift back into the bad old ways.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 04/10/2014 09:55:28    1659964

This was also posted as a new thread but as the subject matter is similar it has been incorporated here.

Tir Conaill Abu
Posts: 936
Donegal

04/10/2014
09:43

Thanks Jim for the memories!


So Jim Mc Guinness leaves us. We were sort of prepared for this news but sad none the less. He had given us a great 5 years winning an Ulster u21, div2 league title, 3 Ulster senior titles and an all ireland. I think he had been a great ambassador for Donegal and will be a difficult man to replace.

Whether you like him or not I think he had earned or respect as a man who more than anything wanted his players to succeed and the injection of positivity he has put into young gaa players in Donegal will lay for quite a while.

Thanks for the memories Jim and don't stay away to long.

Administrator (None) - Posts: 2275 - 04/10/2014 09:59:33    1659965

Did a truly amazing job.
Got results.
Didn't like the style of football but achieved amazing stuff with his will to win seeping through to his player's.
Amazing manger.

OhtobeARossie (Roscommon) - Posts: 1796 - 04/10/2014 10:00:07    1659966

It's always hard for a team and supporters when you loose a top player or manager and I think it's probably only next year that his true value as a manager will be seen. Wasn't pretty to watch a lot of the time but made the most of the resources at his disposal.
Who's to say he wont return in a few years when the Celtic job comes to an end. Wouldn't be the first manager to do a second stint.

SLLY (Dublin) - Posts: 463 - 04/10/2014 10:22:01    1659969

Must be like a death in the family for Donegal fans. Huge loss to them, he made them a team to be feared and put them at the top table, a near impossible act to follow I would imagine, good luck to the guy, he deserves it!

realdub (Dublin) - Posts: 8760 - 04/10/2014 10:29:10    1659970

Getting in and out of this early B4 it turns into the usual. Wish Jim Mc the very best in the future. He owes Donegal nothing. His record speaks for itself. Be hard on the Donegal lads here this morning, but he's left Donegal football in a better place than where he found it and 3 Ulster titles and an AI should rase the pain.
Best of luck
Aido69

Aido69 (Dublin) - Posts: 381 - 04/10/2014 10:37:34    1659975

I feel like I'm grieving this morning. Not the news I wanted but it was going to happen someday.

But wow.

Jim, you have been immense.

The joy, pride, passion, belief, hope, everything else that is good that comes out of football, you have given to the people of Donegal.
I'll never forget the last four years, the highs and even the lows that we bounced back from.
It was a roller coaster.

fielder (Donegal) - Posts: 137 - 04/10/2014 10:38:27    1659976

realdub
County: Dublin
Posts: 4092

1659970
Must be like a death in the family for Donegal fans. Huge loss to them, he made them a team to be feared and put them at the top table, a near impossible act to follow I would imagine, good luck to the guy, he deserves it!

Well put. It is like losing a limb. You associate the name Jim McGuinness with not only going to Clones or Croke park regularly, but also winning in these places. going home, listening to newstalk, and flicking over to other radio channels to hear the aftermath of great games. Talking that evening about the game and wondering the following weeks about the next one. It is a time that we will never ever forget. Great man and a brilliant manager. Very best of luck to him, and I am sure that there will be a lot of good things to come after he goes too, such is his legacy. Whoever follows him we should not be hard on!

Donegalman (None) - Posts: 3847 - 04/10/2014 10:43:18    1659977

He was a great manager. Like Jack O'Connor, I'm sure he'll return at some stage. Armagh and Tyrone are coming from the north.

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8867 - 04/10/2014 10:54:17    1659984

Jimmy's preparing tactics for matches,
Jimmy's preparing for games,
Jimmy will be returning back to Donegal again!

legendzxix (Kerry) - Posts: 8867 - 04/10/2014 11:26:51    1659991

Before this turns into the usual begrudgery and ham fisted analysis I just want to have a say and be done.

Jim - thank you for an unbelievable 5 years. The best way I can describe his effect personally was in the sense of pride I had in being from Donegal in my days working in Dublin during his term.

I remember being laughed at while wearing a Donegal jersey in 2010 playing astroturf out in Coolock. The s lagging wasn't long ending once Jimmy got the lads going I can tell you that.

Instead of shying away from GAA chat we basked in it and thoroughly enjoyed the good natured debate and banter with Dublin colleagues and friends.

Jim leaves an outstanding legacy and it's now a vital time for the county board to ensure it is nurtured properly and successfully.

Once again, thank you Jim and all the very best in your future endeavours. The freedom of Donegal is yours.

Lockjaw (Donegal) - Posts: 9785 - 04/10/2014 11:51:10    1659999

Did wonders for Donegal and ushered in a golden era for the county in Senior football, what more can a man do for his county...

TheHermit (Kerry) - Posts: 6354 - 04/10/2014 11:53:41    1660000

Great manager. Unorthodox but who cares, sport isn't supposed to be one dimensional. His tactics, ability to motive and prepare his players were almost always 10 out of 10 spot on.

CaisleanCnucha (Dublin) - Posts: 1379 - 04/10/2014 12:09:39    1660006

I hope Jack o Connor doesn't return, he had his day in the sun, we'll done to Jimmy Mac did a fantastic job.

kerryrowz (Kerry) - Posts: 833 - 04/10/2014 12:09:52    1660007

The best possible compliment i can pay Jim is to say as a Dub, I am absolutely delighted he is gone! And i mean that in the best possible way!
Jim, i came around to you in the end and was in awe of you post semi final. Fare thee well. If u are short a hobby in a few years, i have a junior football club down here that would love to have u !! :)

Liamwalkinstown (Dublin) - Posts: 8166 - 04/10/2014 12:11:55    1660008

I think the commitment of inter-county management is huge nowadays and with a young family as well the job in Glasgow maybe Jim felt he couldn't a 100% anymore.

It's a pity that he leaves on a loss but that'll be forgotten when Donegal folk gather in the future and talk turns to football.

From an outsider's perspective he really seemed to come along and turn Donegal football on its head. From the wild drinkin partyin' crew into a uber disciplined machine!

Well done to Jimmy and best of luck to him in his future endevours.

He's left Donegal football in a great place, where they should still be challenging for Ulster and All-Ireland titles despite his leaving.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13803 - 04/10/2014 12:25:06    1660016

Legend!

DLlegends (Donegal) - Posts: 503 - 04/10/2014 12:29:32    1660022

Best of luck to Jim in his new path . What a fantastic manager he was for Donegal . He brought the best out of everyone who worked under him - says a lot about the man . Big boots to fill now but with the players Donegal have (even with retirements) it's still an appealing job for any man . Interesting to see who gets it .

Hardtimes (Cavan) - Posts: 1056 - 04/10/2014 12:45:11    1660031

Inspirational figure and will be sorely missed. Certainly will be back at some stage. Couldn't say enough good things about him.

GetOverTheBar (Tyrone) - Posts: 1388 - 04/10/2014 12:56:38    1660035