Bohemian FC Bray Wanderers Drogheda United Dundalk Shamrock Rovers Sligo Rovers St. Patricks Ath Athlone Town Finn Harps Cork City Derry SD Galway Limerick FC Longford Town Mervue Utd Monaghan United Shelbourne UCD Waterford United Wexford Youths
 
 
 
Dermot Keely
Date of Birth: March 8th, 1954
Place of Birth: Dublin
Playing Career: Home Farm; St. Patrick’s Athletic; Dundalk; Glentoran; UCD; Shamrock Rovers
Managerial Career: UCD; Shamrock Rovers; Sligo Rovers; Longford Town; Dundalk; Finn Harps; Athlone Town; Home Farm; Shelbourne; Kildare County; Derry City; Dublin City; Shelbourne

Biography


Dermot Keely is the most experienced manager in the League of Ireland, having taken his first management job back in 1983.

Keely cut his teeth with management early on, accepting the player-manager role at UCD. However, shortly after his appointment he was persuaded by the legendary Jim McLaughlin to sign for Shamrock Rovers. Keely moved to Milltown and under McLaughlin’s management the club won three league titles and two FAI Cup’s in three seasons.

When McLaughlin left Rovers after the 1985-86 season, Keely was appointed player-manager of Rovers. The uncompromising central defender took off where McLaughlin left from, delivering the club another league and cup double, their third in a row.

However, with the sale of Milltown, the side broke-up and Keely left Rovers in April 1988.

Keely went from one Rovers to another, taking control of Sligo Rovers. He guided the club to the First Division title at the first time of asking and then secured a 5th place finish for the club in the top flight the following year.

After a brief spell at Longford Town, Keely went to Dundalk, where he won the league title in 1995. The following season, he secured the First Division title for Finn Harps.

He later managed both Athlone Town and Home Farm before landing the job at Shelbourne. Despite working for many clubs over the years, it is his work with Shelbourne that is best known.

Between 1998 and 2002, Keely won two league titles (1999 - 2000 & 2001 - 02) and one FAI Cup (2000). Keely assembled a very strong side at Shelbourne, which included both Tony Sheridan and Stephen Geoghegan.

After leaving Shelbourne in 2002, Keely joined new club Kildare County, guiding them to a respectable 5th place finish in the First Division. The following season, he left to take over Derry City but his stay at the Brandywell lasted just a matter of months.

2005 saw Keely take over Dublin City, whom he guided back to the Premier Division before they folded in mid-season.

After Shelbourne were demoted to the First Division before the start of the 2007 season, the Reds turned to Keely, who now has the task of restoring the club to its former glory.

Last six seasons


2008: 2nd (Shelbourne - First Division)
2007: 5th (Shelbourne - First Division)
2006: N/A
2005: 2nd (Dublin City - First Division)
2004: N/A
2003: N/A
2002-03: 5th (Kildare County - First Division)
 
 
 
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