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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Damien John Richardson | ||
| Date of birth | (1947-08-02)2 August 1947 (age 78) | ||
| Place of birth | Dublin, Ireland | ||
| Position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1963–1972 | Shamrock Rovers | 110 | (41) |
| 1972–1981 | Gillingham | 323 | (94) |
| 1984–1985 | Canterbury City | 28 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 1971–1979 | Republic of Ireland | 3 | (0) |
| 1968 | League of Ireland XI | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1989–1992 | Gillingham | ||
| 1993–1995 | Cork City | ||
| 1995 | Cobh Ramblers | ||
| 1995–1998 | Shelbourne | ||
| 1999–2002 | Shamrock Rovers | ||
| 2005–2007 | Cork City | ||
| 2010–2011 | League of Ireland XI | ||
| 2014 | Drogheda United | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Damien John Richardson (born 2 August 1947) is an Irishfootball manager and former player. His most recent job was as manager ofDrogheda United. Richardson formerly managedGillingham in England andCobh Ramblers,Shelbourne andShamrock Rovers in Ireland. He is also known for his media work, includingMonday Night Soccer.
As a player Richardson's career was divided betweenShamrock Rovers andGillingham. He made his Rovers debut in a 2–1 friendly win overSunderland at Roker Park on 10 August 1963. His competitive debut came eight days later as Rovers beat Shelbourne 3–0 at Tolka Park in aDublin City Cup clash. While at Rovers he twice won theFAI Cup in 1968 and 1969 (scoring in the final replay) as well as getting an Inter League cap and represented the club 5 times in theUEFA Cup Winners Cup. He received the first of three international caps for theIrish national team while at Shamrock Rovers, making his debut against Austria in Linz in October 1971. He scored in his final appearance for Rovers on 22 October 1972 atMilltown.
He moved to the EnglishFourth Division side Gillingham at the age of 25. He played for thePriestfield Stadium side for the next nine years before being released in 1981. During his time there he scored 100 goals and was named Player of the Season for 1974–75.[1][2]
Richardson's managerial career began in 1989 where he managed Gillingham, having previously served as the club's youth team manager. A rather lacklustre career there ended in 1992, and he returned to Ireland in 1993 to manageCork City. He proved an instant success bringing the club within striking distance of retaining the league title. However, after 18 months he left the club after a dispute with then chairmanPat O'Donovan.
Following Cork City, he moved on another Cork sideCobh Ramblers before taking up the management position atShelbourne. His time at Shelbourne saw twoCup successes (1995–96 and 1996–97), oneLeague of Ireland Cup (1995–96) and a runner up position in theLeague (1997–98) in three seasons. His failure to win the league ultimately cost him his job.
He moved to his old club Shamrock Rovers, where his tenure for three seasons failed to result in a trophy. Ultimately, Richardson and club chairmanJoe Colwell disagreed on the direction of the club, and parted ways in April 2002.[3] Colwell wanted to focus on building a new stadium for the club, while Richardson wanted to focus on a full-time panel of players.
In 2005 Richardson returned toLeague of Ireland management when Cork City's managerPat Dolan was dramatically sacked before the start of pre-season friendlies. Cork City chairman Brian Lennox signed the 57-year-old Richardson to a two-year contract atTurners Cross 15 days before the first competitive match of the season. Richardson commented that the Cork City job was the only one that could have brought him back to League of Ireland management.[4] Despite being hospitalised in September[5] in his first season in charge Cork City were crownedLeague of Ireland champions for the second time in the club's history. Cork City also reached the final of theFAI Cup but were defeated byDrogheda United. The 2006 and 2007 seasons saw 4th-place positions for his club in both years. In 2007 Richardson led Cork City to FAI Cup victory, but left shortly afterwards following some controversy, and a financial settlement agreement.[6]
In 2010 Damien was selected by the FAI to manage aLeague of Ireland XI to play a full-strengthManchester United side in the opening match of theAviva Stadium in Dublin. Again in 2011 he was selected by the FAI to manage a League of Ireland XI to play in theDublin Super Cup at the Aviva Stadium.
Richardson was named as the manager ofDrogheda United on 26 July 2014 for the remainder of their league campaign.
In 2002, Richardson left football management to become a TV soccer pundit withTV3 in Ireland, before returning to the game in 2005. He is now a regular pundit onMonday Night Soccer onRaidió Teilifís Éireann, and is also a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio's coverage ofRepublic of Ireland international matches. He contributed toRTÉ Sport's coverage of the2010 FIFA World Cup.[7][8]
Richardson writes a regular blog for the RTÉ /MNS website, and continues to write a weekly column for a Cork newspaper since his time as manager of Cork City.
Richardson has also supported Red FM's national award-winning "Break the Cycle" anti-speeding campaign. In addition to his media work, he occasionally teaches football team management seminars. Richardson also once played thebodhran on an album (A Kentish Garland) by Tundra, afolk music group fromKent.[9]
Individual
Richardson's father George also played and managed in the League of Ireland. He played forBray Unknowns F.C. andBrideville F.C. and managedSt Patrick's Athletic in the 1970s.
Damien Richardson is current Player-of-the-Year. He earned the award with some great performances last season.
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