The FAI Noel O'Reilly Coach of the Year Award recognises 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 2012 FAI AGM Annual dinner:
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 form is attached to this email; please feel free to forward this email to anyone who may be interested: Application forms can also be requested by emailing coached@fai:ie
The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday, 20th June 2012:
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:
FAI Noel O'Reilly Coach of the Year Award Nomination Form: Please click HERE