Devine revelation: Declan Devine returns for second spell in Derry City hotseat

Derry City have appointed 2012 FAI Cup-winning manager Declan Devine for a second spell in the Brandywell hotseat.

The Derry native spent two years in charge of the Candystripes, guiding them to European qualification in both seasons but was surprisingly let go at the end of 2013.

45-year-old Devine represented Derry, Omagh Town, Glentoran and Institute during a decade-long playing career.

The goalkeeper was part of the Derry side that lifted the Premier Division trophy in 1997, and also won an Irish Cup during his spell in the Irish League with Glentoran.

After finishing his playing career, Devine stayed on as a member of Stephen Kenny's background team throughout his time in Derry and with Dunfermline.

Since leaving his post at Derry in 2013, Devine has worked as a coach with the IFA’s Club NI Elite Underage program and as an analyst with RTÉ’s Soccer Republic and Eir Sport.

“This is our club, this is your club and the people beside me all have a real love affair for Derry City,” Devine told journalists at his unveiling.

“We can provide an unbelievable professional football club which is a platform onto bigger and better things.

“We need an identity, we need passion, we need support, we need players who are going to respect and honour what it means to play for Derry City.

“Fundamentally that’s what it comes down to; respect and honour and knowing what the jersey means.”



Devine admitted that recruitment is needed to revive the club’s fortunes after last season’s disappointing eighth-place finish, especially as much of the squad is not local.

“Our recruitment is going to be key. It’s going to be very difficult to attract people to come again and people are tied up already.

“The one thing we will be doing is homework on every single player. They need to be the right fit for Derry City.

“The club has to mean something to them. The environment has to be right for them. Their professionalism, their discipline, their lifestyle has got to be huge in this.

“It’s a wonderful place to live, it’s a wonderful place to play but they have got to be right.”

‘“There are not too many locally based players at the club and, while that’s not going to change overnight, we’ll certainly try to put structures in place so we have an identity as a club, footballers and staff.”