Ger Brennan appointed Dublin football manager on three-year term

Ger Brennan has been handed a three-year term at the helm of the Dublin senior footballers – as the St Vincent’s clubman moves from managing the Wee County to taking on the biggest gig in Gaelic football.

The Dublin County Board made the announcement just after 4pm on Friday afternoon – a little under three hours before the start of the capital’s senior football championship.

Dublin GAA are delighted to confirm the appointment of Ger Brennan as the new Dublin Senior Football manager — Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) August 8, 2025

In May of this year Brennan managed Louth to a first senior provincial triumph since 1957, but his surprise decision at the start of July to step down from that role came just three days after Dessie Farrell had ended his six-year spell in charge of the Dubs.

Brennan’s appointment now sees the two-time Sam Maguire winner (2011 and 2013) in the unique position of trying to claim back-to-back Leinster senior football titles but with different counties.

“I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity to try to continue to build and add to the success of my predecessors, a couple of great men who I’ve been fortunate enough to play with and play under, so I very much look forward to the challenge ahead,” said Brennan to Dublin GAA TV on Friday.

“I suppose different opportunities present themselves to people at different times, and sometimes the stars align.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experiences elsewhere over the last number of years, learned quite a bit along that journey, making new friends too.

“With Dessie stepping away after an incredible six years of service that he gave, and obviously more than that with the 20s and minors and his own playing career, the stars aligned in terms of myself and the opportunity that’s here right now.”

But the stars and the bookmakers weren’t aligned on the announcement as at least one of the major firms had suspended betting earlier this week on Declan Darcy succeeding Farrell.

Ger Brennan celebrates Louth's Leinster title win with selector Dr Niall Moyla. Photograph: James Crombie/Inpho

Brennan was actually the early favourite for the position – indeed betting was initially stopped on him in early July – but in recent weeks Darcy had been repositioned as the frontrunner.

It is understood Darcy – a selector under Jim Gavin – had strong support from several experienced players within the Dublin squad, but Friday’s confirmation of Brennan instead sees him follow a proud lineage of St Vincent’s clubmen to have managed Dublin, including Kevin Heffernan, Mickey Whelan and Pat Gilroy.

The Louth role was Brennan’s first as a senior intercounty manager but he had previously had spells as a coach in Carlow, while he also managed Wicklow outfit Bray Emmets and Kildare side Moorefield.

Brennan spent two years as Louth boss – keeping the Wee County in Division Two, leading them a first ever All-Ireland quarter-final appearance and historically winning the Delaney Cup.

But his goal will now be to wrestle both the Delaney Cup and Sam Maguire back to the capital.

“As a player, for Dublin over the guts of 10 years, something we were always taught by our managers and coaches is trying to leave the jersey in a better place.

Dublin's Ger Brennan celebrates winning Sam Maguire in 2013. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho

“That’s something I’ll be working particularly hard at to ensure that when my term does come to an end, that I’ve been able to build on the success of my predecessors and have added value.”

His finalised management team is yet to be confirmed but there will be some continuity from Farrell’s set-up while Brennan is also expected to bring in some of his recently retired ex-Dublin colleagues for specific coaching roles.

A former teacher, Brennan has been working as UCD Sport’s Gaelic Games Executive since 2015.

“The thing I love, whether it’s coaching or management and certainly my role in UCD over the last 10 years, is you pick up so many wonderful and new things from different players,” he said.

“That’s something I’m probably lucky to have had that exposure over the last number of years, to be able to see what’s coming through.

“I kind of think back to my own playing days as well, certainly as I was coming towards the end of the career when new blood came in, they brought new ideas, new energy and they also brought a good bit of competition, which I think is great.

"I feel very fortunate to be given this opportunity to try to continue to build & add to the success of my predecessors. Very much looking forward to the challenge..."

DubsTV spoke to Ger Brennan, following his appointment as Dublin Senior Football manager on a three-year term. pic.twitter.com/9RfMmKN0jI — Dublin GAA (@DubGAAOfficial) August 8, 2025

“I think more seasoned guys who have a few more miles on the clock, when new blood does come in I think it does encourage and enthuse those older players as well.”

Brennan made 67 senior appearances for Dublin – 26 in championship and 41 in league – between 2007 and 2013.

An Achilles injury curtailed the latter years of his days in blue and navy, and in 2015 he was forced to call time on his Dublin career at just 30 years of age.

At the time, he stated: “It is with both satisfaction and sadness that I announce my retirement from intercounty football. I am sufficiently satisfied that I have fulfilled my boyhood dream to wear the Dublin senior football team jersey and to achieve success on and off the field of play.

“I also feel sadness that a particular journey of my life is coming to a close, and I will miss everything that is associated with representing my county.”

But for the next three years at least, Brennan will once again wear the badge across his chest.

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