Jim McGuinness has been appointed as Donegal senior gaelic football manager for the second time.
His re-appointment was confirmed at a specially-convened meeting of the county board on Monday evening.
His backroom team will include two of the players he guided to an All-Ireland senior football title in 2012, Gweedore’s Neil McGee and McGuinness’ brother-in-law Colm McFadden.
McFadden had been working as a forwards coach with Sligo under Tony McEntee over the past year.
Donegal minor manager Luke Barrett will also be part of the set-up, working on analysis.
Donegal GAA’s official statement on Monday evening read as follows:
“Donegal GAA is delighted to announce the appointment of Jim McGuinness as Senior Football team manager, following a meeting of Donegal County Committee.
This is an exciting time for all Donegal GAA Supporters and Donegal people at home and abroad.
CLG Dhún na nGall wish Jim, his backroom team, and the players every success for the future.
The term will be for 3 years with an option for the 4th year.”
McGuinness led Donegal to the county’s second All-Ireland SFC title in 2012.
He was also part of the Rory Kavanagh-Karl Lacey managerial ticket last year, but the job was eventually given to Paddy Carr.
Donegal have been seeking a new boss since interim manager Aidan O’Rourke stepped down in late June following a turbulent 12 months for the county.
McGuinness was previously appointed to the job in late 2010 when Donegal football was at a low ebb after a comprehensive All-Ireland qualifier defeat by Armagh.
After guiding the county to that memorable All-Ireland success in 2012, he eventually stepped down as Donegal boss following their All-Ireland final loss to Kerry in 2014.
By that stage, he had already moved into a soccer coaching post with Celtic in Brendan Rodgers’ first spell in charge of the Glasgow club.
After ending his performance consultant role at Celtic, the Donegal man was appointed to further soccer coaching positions in China and USA.
In the summer of 2017 he became the assistant to coach Roger Schmidt at Chinese Super League club Beijing Guoan but stepped down six months later, citing “personal family reasons”.
McGuinness was appointed manager of second-tier US football club Charlotte Independence on a three-year contract in December 2018 but was sacked from the role within six months after his team’s run of only one win in 14 games.
Since returning to Ireland, he has had a soccer coaching role with Derry City’s under-19 team in addition to dipping back into the GAA by taking occasional training sessions with inter-county teams along with regular media punditry work.
