One in a million.
Mick O’Dwyer has announced his retirement from inter-county management, ending a career that has lasted more than 60 years as both a player and boss.
The 77-year-old enjoyed success with Kerry both as a player and a manager, before going on to take charge of Kildare, Laois, Wicklow and Clare.
“My days of rolling up the match programme tightly in my hand and heading out to patrol the sidelines are over. I’d be happy to give a bit of advice from time to time if anyone wants it but I won’t be managing again. That’s behind me now,” said O’Dwyer.
Mick O’Dwyer retired, up there with the best manager ever! His achievement with big and small counties is unreal #Legend
— Tom O’Connor (@TommyOC92) January 16, 2014
The Waterville native signed off with Clare having managed Kerry for 15 seasons, Kildare for 10, Laois for four and Wicklow for five.
O’Dwyer underwent surgery on an old ankle injury four months and it was thought that he could give it one more season at the coalface.
However, he feels that now is the time to call it quits.
“I always believed in the ‘never say never’ motto but it’s time to pack in the management side of things,” he said.
“After all the great years in Kerry, I got huge satisfaction from winning Leinster with Kildare and Laois. It meant so much to the people in those counties.”
