Paul Hegarty (Irish footballer)

Paul Hegarty
Personal information
Date of birth (1967-05-30) 30 May 1967
Place of birth Ballindrait, County Donegal, Ireland
Position Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Derry City (assistant manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1992 Derry City 44 (2)
1992–1995 Finn Harps 79 (4)
1995–2000 Derry City 160 (1)
2001 Coleraine 29 (0)
2002–2004 Institute 50 (0)
Total 362 (7)
Managerial career
2002–2004 Institute
2005–2006 Derry City (assistant)
2006–2009 Finn Harps
2012–2014 Derry City (assistant)
2015 Derry City (caretaker)
2016–2022 Finn Harps (assistant)
2024 Derry City (assistant)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Paul Hegarty (born 30 May 1967) is an Irish football coach and former player who was most recently the assistant manager of League of Ireland Premier Division club Derry City. 'Heggsy', as he is commonly referred to, has also previously managed nearby clubs Institute and Finn Harps as well as another brief period as assistant to Stephen Kenny at Derry from 2005 to 2006.[1][2]

Playing career

Hegarty was born in Raphoe, County Donegal, Ireland. He played youth football in the Ulster Senior League before signing with Derry City where he made his League of Ireland debut on 13 September 1987. He went on to become part of the side that won the treble in 1989 before moving to Finn Harps in 1992.[3] Hegarty returned to Derry in 1995 and was a member of the squad that lifted the top flight title in 1997.[3] He finished up his career with Coleraine and Institute, including a spell as a player-manager with the latter.[4] Hegarty was known throughout Ireland as one of the toughest tackling midfielders of his era.

Managerial and coaching

Before becoming the assistant manager to Stephen Kenny at Derry City in 2005, Hegarty had a spell of management at Institute. His desire for his team to do well was evident during every game. This driven and determined attitude is reminiscent of the character Hegarty displayed on the field as a player. While at Derry, Hegarty was ever present on the sidelines as the club went on to win the FAI Cup, finish second in the League of Ireland and enjoyed an historic run in the UEFA Cup, being eliminated in the first round by Paris St. Germain.

On 15 December 2006, Hegarty announced that he would be moving on from his role as assistant manager at Derry due to difficulties relating to Pat Fenlon's new training schedules for the 2007 season.[5] With the managerial slot left empty at Finn Harps since Anthony Gorman's departure, Hegarty looked like the favourite to take the role at Finn Park.[6] On 20 December 2006, Hegarty was named the new boss at Finn Harps after signing a two-year deal with the club.[7] Whilst he guided Finn Harps to promotion via the playoffs in his first season, he also presided over their immediate return to the First Division of the League of Ireland.[8][9] He was given a four-match touchline ban in April 2008 for his reaction to the referee's decision to send off Finn Harps' Kevin Ramsey.[10] On 11 May 2009, Hegarty left the club, citing "personal reasons", and was replaced as manager by James Gallagher.[11]

Upon the departure of Stephen Kenny in 2011, Hegarty interviewed for the vacant managerial position at Derry City but was unsuccessful. Instead, he joined the club on 6 January 2012 as assistant to their new manager Declan Devine, who was the previous assistant manager to Stephen Kenny as well as a former teammate and colleague of Hegarty.[12][13][14]

On 29 July 2015, Hegarty rejoined Derry City as assistant manager to Peter Hutton.[15] He took over as caretaker at Derry on 15 September 2015, after Hutton left the club.[16] Hegarty declined to take up the managerial position on a permanent basis, leaving the club the following month.[17]

On 13 June 2016, Hegarty rejoined Finn Harps, this time as assistant manager to Ollie Horgan.[18] He was linked with the Derry City job after Declan Devine left the post by mutual consent.[19] After Ollie Horgan's departure, Hegarty was replaced as assistant manager with Darren Murphy by new manager, Dave Rogers.[20]

On 9 February 2024, Derry City announced that Hegarty had been appointed as assistant manager to Ruaidhrí Higgins, succeeding Paddy McLaughlin.[21][3] Higgins was replaced as manager by Tiernan Lynch on 18 November 2024, with Lynch's older brother Seamus coming in as assistant.[22]

Honours

Player

Derry City

Source:[23]

References

  1. ^ "Paul Hegarty emerges as frontrunner for Derry's vacant assistant manager post". Derry Journal. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  2. ^ ""You'll get that in every walk in life [fall-outs] but it's healthy.": Hegarty". Derry Journal. 16 February 2024. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c "Derry City: Paul Hegarty appointed assistant manager to Higgins at Candystripes". BBC Sport. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Irish League Lives: Paul Hegarty on being fast tracked into management with Institite". Belfast Telegraph. 28 January 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  5. ^ "Football: Hegarty is the latest to head for Derry door". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 15 December 2006. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  6. ^ [1]
  7. ^ "Hegarty is new Finn Harps manager". BBC Sport. 20 December 2006. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  8. ^ "Hegarty to stay on with reduced budget". RTÉ Sport. RTÉ. 14 December 2008. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  9. ^ Malone, Emmet (13 December 2007). "Derry set their sights on Hegarty". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  10. ^ "Hegarty receives four-match ban". Irish Independent. 11 April 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  11. ^ Mackey, Liam (12 May 2009). "Hegarty leaves Finn Harps". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  12. ^ "Declan Devine appointed new Derry City manager". BBC Sport. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  13. ^ "Declan Devine appointed new Derry City manager". Derry City Football Club. 6 January 2012. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  14. ^ Maguire, Stephen (6 January 2012). "HEGARTY TAKES OVER AS NUMBER TWO AT DERRY CITY". Donegal Daily. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Hutton brings in Hegarty as new Derry assistant". RTÉ. 29 July 2015.
  16. ^ "Peter Hutton leaves Derry City". RTÉ. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Paul Hegarty decides job at Derry City is not for him". BelfastTelegraph.co.uk. 2 November 2015. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  18. ^ "Paul Hegarty". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
  19. ^ "Declan Devine: Manager parts company with Derry City after poor start to season". BBC Sport. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  20. ^ Lee, Ethan (12 December 2022). "Darren Murphy Appointed Assistant Manager - Finn Harps FC Official Website". Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  21. ^ "Welcome Back Higgsy!". www.derrycityfc.net. Derry City Football Club. 9 February 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  22. ^ "Derry City: Larne manager Tiernan Lynch to become Candystripes boss on three-year deal". BBC Sport. 18 November 2024. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  23. ^ Doyle, Garry (10 August 2017). "Hegarty: forget about false nines and just coach". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 29 September 2025.
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