Introduction
Jim Gavin (born 1 July 1971) is an Irish Gaelic football manager and former player. He has been the manager of the Dublin senior team since 2012, where he has since become one of the county's most successful managers in terms of major titles won. Gavin is regarded as one of the best managers in the modern game.
Raised in Clondalkin, South Dublin, Gavin was introduced to Gaelic football by his father, a native of Clare and former chairman of the local club team in Clondalkin. He developed his skills in the local street leagues before winning a record six Cumann na mBunscoil medals as a dual player with Clonburris National School. Gavin attended and represented Moyle Park College, before later enjoying championship successes at underage levels with the Round Towers club.
Gavin made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Dublin minor team. An All-Ireland runner-up as a non-playing substitute, his subsequent training with the Air Corps ruled him out of any involvement with the under-21 side. Gavin joined the Dublin senior team during the 1992-93 league. He went on to play a key role for Dublin over much of the next decade, and won one All-Ireland medal, three Leinster medals and one National Football League medal. Gavin retired from inter-county football following the conclusion of the 2002 championship.
After being involved in team management and coaching in all grades at club level, Gavin guided the Dublin under-21 team to All-Ireland success in 2003. He later claimed two more All-Ireland titles in this grade in 2010 and 2012. Gavin was appointed manager of the Dublin senior team on 1 October 2012. He has since gone on to lead Dublin through a period of unprecedented provincial and national dominance, winning twelve major honours. These include three All-Ireland Championships, four successive Leinster Championships, four successive National Leagues, including three league-championship doubles, and one O'Byrne Cup.
Playing career
Jim Gavin was born into a strong GAA family in the Clonburris area of Clondalkin. His father Jim senior coached neighbourhood teams in the local street leagues at various levels, teams that regularly contained Jim junior and his brothers Barry and Brian. Jim also represented Clonburris Primary School with some distinction, winning six out of six Cumann na mBunscoil finals in Croke Park - three in football and three in hurling.
Jim soon went on to attend and represent Moyle Park College. His performances for Round Towers caught the eye of the Dublin selectors, making his senior debut in 1993.
With Dublin Gavin won the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship.
Management career
In 2009, he coached Dublin to a Leinster Under 21 Football Championship and progressed to the All-Ireland final where they lost to Cork. He repeated the Leinster victory in 2010, going one better than the previous year by winning the All-Ireland Under 21 Football Championship final. His selectors were Declan Darcy, Shane O'Hanlon and Jim Brogan.
Gavin was ratified as senior football manager on 1 October 2012, replacing Pat Gilroy and signing a three-year contract (2013 - 2015). Michael Deegan, David Byrne and Declan D'Arcy were his selectors for 2013. On 28 April 2013, Dublin won the 2013 National Football League with a 0-18 to 0-17 win against Tyrone at Croke Park. Then he complained that things were "too drawn out." He led Dublin to the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final by beating Kerry in the semi-final, 3-18 to 3-11. Dublin won the final on 22 September, beating Mayo by 2-12 to 1-14. In December 2013, Gavin was named the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year.
On 20 September 2015, Dublin again beat Kerry 0-12 to 0-09 to win their second All-Ireland title in three years.
WCareer statistics
Manager
- As of match played 1 October 2016.
| Team | From | To | O'Byrne Cup | National League | Leinster | All-Ireland | Total | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | G | W | D | L | G | W | D | L | G | W | D | L | G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Dublin | 1 October 2012 | Present | 17 | 12 | 0 | 5 | 36 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 77 | 62 | 4 | 11 | 80% |
Honours
Professional International
United Nations Mission in Chad and Central African Republic (MINURCAT) Medal (One of only 3 Irish Officers to serve in CAR)
Irish Peace Keepers Medal
Player
- Dublin
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (1): 1995
- Leinster Senior Football Championship (3): 1993, 1994, 1995
- National Football League (1): 1992-93
Manager
- Dublin
- All-Ireland Senior Football Championship (3): 2013, 2015, 2016
- Leinster Senior Football Championship (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- National Football League (4): 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- O'Byrne Cup (1): 2015
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship (3): 2003, 2010, 2012
- Leinster Under-21 Football Championship (3): 2003, 2010, 2012