The RTÉ Sports Manager of the Year Award is an award given annually as part of the RTÉ Sports Awards ceremony each December. The award is given to the manager who was considered to have made the most substantive contribution to Irish sport in that year. The award is decided by RTÉ Sport department editorial staff.
The award was introduced in 2011 in recognition of the huge effort made behind the scenes and on the sidelines. The first recipient of the award was association football manager Giovanni Trapattoni. The award has been presented to people representing a wide range of sports. The most recent award was presented in 2023 to Willie Mullins.
Winners
By year
+RTÉ Sports Manager of the Year Award winnersYearNationalityWinnerSportManager ofRationaleNote2011FootballRepublic of Ireland men's national football teamfor guiding the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2012 qualification, the team's first appearance at a major tournament in ten years.2012BoxingOlympic teamfor guiding the Irish Olympic boxing team to four medals in total in London, including one gold.2013Hurling Clare senior hurling teamfor guiding the Clare senior hurling team to the All-Ireland title for the first time since 1997.2014Rugby unionIreland men's national rugby union teamfor guiding Ireland to RBS Six Nations glory and ending the year with a highest ever ranking of third in the world. 2015FootballNorthern Ireland men's national football teamfor guiding Northern Ireland to win their group and qualify for Euro 2016.2016FootballDundalk F.C.for guiding his team to a third successive League of Ireland Premier Division and achieving a first-ever victory for an Irish side in the group stage of European football.2017Horse racingBallydoylefor setting a new world record by training 26 Group 1 winners in one calendar year.2018Field hockeyIreland women's national hockey teamfor guiding his team to a runners-up spot at the 2018 Women's Hockey World Cup.2019Gaelic footballDublin men's gaelic football teamrecord-breaking five successive All-Ireland Championships.2020HurlingLimerick Hurling Teamfor winning the 2020 Munster Senior Hurling Championship, the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship and the 2020 National Hurling League.2021RowingRowing Irelandfor coaching Ireland’s first ever Olympic gold medallists in rowing.2022FootballRepublic of Ireland women's national football teamfor guiding the Republic of Ireland to the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup qualification, which was the team's first appearance at a major tournament.2023Rugby UnionIreland men's national rugby union teamfor guiding Ireland to a Six Nations title and Grand Slam.2024Horse RacingCarlowfor training the Grand National winner and 9 winners at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.2025FootballShamrock Rovers F.C.for guiding his team to a first League of Ireland Premier Division and FAI Cup double since 1987 as well as qualifying for the UEFA Conference League league phase for the second time.
Gallery
By nationality This table lists the total number of awards won by managers of each nationality based on the principle of jus soli. +Winners by nationalityNationalityNumber of wins Ireland 10 England 1 Italy 1 Netherlands 1 New Zealand 1 Northern Ireland 1
By sport This table lists the total number of awards won by managers' sporting profession. +Winners by sportSporting profession Number of winsFootball 5Hurling 2Rugby union 2Horse racing 2Boxing 1Gaelic football 1Field hockey 1Rowing 1
References