The “FAI Noel O'Reilly Coach of the Year Award” will recognise an individual who has shown an outstanding commitment to soccer coaching and further development of soccer players in the area of grassroots football:
The winner will be announced at the FAI AGM Annual dinner in Wexford on Friday August 20th:
Nominations are invited from any individual, club, or organisation wishing to nominate a coach for this award: Nominees must be shown to have made an outstanding contribution to grassroots soccer coaching:
An application is attached, and can also be requested by contacting the FAI Coach Education Department at 01/8999563 or by sending a request by email to coached@fai:ie This e/mail address is being protected from spambots: You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday, June 30th 2010:
Noel O'Reilly, who passed away following a short illness in 2008, had a distinguished coaching career at club and international level: At club level, he was best known for his involvement with Dublin schoolboy club Belvedere and League of Ireland sides Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick's Athletic:
On the international stage, he was the manager of the Ireland's World Universities Men's team, which attracts players from both sides of the border:
He previously managed the Republic of Ireland U18 squad and was also coach to various other international under/age teams over the years as well as being a member of Brian Kerr's senior management team from 2003 to 2005:
He was coach to the Ireland squads which won the 1998 European U16 and U18 Championships and also the team which finished third at the World U20 Cup in 1997:
He joined the FAI full/time in 1999 as a Development Officer and played a major role in coach education during his time with the association: He was promoted to the post of Senior Coach Educator in April 2008