Derry have announced Mickey Harte as their new senior football manager. The former Tyrone boss has signed a three-year deal.
Reports this week indicated that the former Tyrone boss informed the Louth players of his decision to join Derry on Monday evening at Darver.
Shortly after the reports emerged, Louth released a statement confirming the impending move:
"Following a meeting of the Louth GAA management committee on Monday, 18th September, chairperson Peter Fitzpatrick informed committee members that senior team manager Mickey Harte and senior team coach Gavin Devlin will be stepping down from their roles with Louth GAA with immediate effect, taking over with Derry senior footballers," the statement read.
Derry has now confirmed the move.
"Following Tuesday night’s meeting of Coiste Chontae Dhoire, Derry GAA is pleased to announce the senior football management team for the incoming year," started the statement.
"Multiple All-Ireland-winning manager Mickey Harte has been appointed on a three-year term and will lead a management team, including Gavin Devlin. Further details about the backroom team will be confirmed in due course.
"We wish both the management team and playing panel every success for the 2024 season."
Wishing our new senior football management team every success 🙌🇦🇹
More here ➡️ https://t.co/0o4FsTohwy pic.twitter.com/Ywm3EkPuIT— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) September 19, 2023
Harte replaces Ciaran Meenagh, who took over from Rory Gallagher on the eve of this year's Ulster SFC final penalty shootout victory over Armagh but decided not to take the job on a permanent basis.
Harte is best known for his lengthy and successful tenure with the Tyrone senior football team, where he managed from 2002 to 2020, guiding them to three All-Ireland Senior Football Championships in 2003, 2005, and 2008. Harte's time with Tyrone established him as one of the most respected figures in Irish football. He also secured numerous Ulster Senior Football Championships and National Football League titles, solidifying his legacy in Gaelic football.
In November 2020, Harte was appointed manager of the senior Louth county team for an expected three-year period, but that tenure has now come to an end.
This year, Harte led the 'Wee county' from Division 4 to Division 2 of the Allianz League and also helped them reach this year's Leinster SFC final, in which they lost heavily to Dublin.
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