John Russell has been appointed the new Sligo Rovers manager on a contract until the end of 2023.
Russell had taken the team on an interim basis for Sligo’s previous two fixtures. Those fixtures produced a 2-1 win at the Showgrounds against Derry City, and a 1-1 draw away to UCD last Friday evening.
He will now take the team in an official capacity as manager this afternoon at training as the team begin preparations for the remainder of the season.
The 37-year-old’s first competitive game in charge will be at home to Finn harps on the 18th June. It is set to be a 7:45 kick off at the Showgrounds.
The Galway native enjoyed an 18 year-long playing career in which he made over 130 appearances for the Bit O’ Red in three spells starting in 2010, signing for Paul Cook from Galway United. The signing proved to be a major part in the club’s success in his first two seasons at the club, with Russell winning The FAI Cup & EA Sports Cup in 2010 and another FAI Cup in 2011.
Russell then departed for St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of the 2011 season, going on to win a league title in 2013 before returning to Rovers in the 2014 season under then manager Ian Baraclough. John played for four seasons, winning The Setanta Sports Cup in 2014 and being part of the team which won away to Rosenborg on a famous night in Trondheim in The Europa League later that summer. He departed at the end of 2017 to take up a full-time coaching and development role with the FAI as Regional Development officer for Sligo/Leitrim.
Russell became First Team Assistant Manager before the start of the 2019 SSE Airtricity League season, a position he has held until today.
Speaking about his appointment, the new Rovers boss said:
‘’I am privileged and honoured to be appointed as first team manager of Sligo Rovers.
Sligo Rovers is the heartbeat of the community and I want all the supporters to know that I am determined to improve this team. I have a clear vision and strategy for the club going forward.
I know first-hand the quality of players we have in our dressing room. This group has a real willingness to learn and improve. It’s an exciting time to be following Sligo Rovers with the league games resuming, European Football next month, and the FAI Cup around the corner. We are all looking forward to the challenges ahead’’.
Club Chairman Tony Higgins said:
‘’We are thrilled to make this announcement this afternoon. After a rigorous recruitment process, we are fully satisfied that John is the right man to take us forward and lead us on our journey over the coming season and a half at least.
John knows the club inside out and has a great work ethic and passion for the club which stands out and his in-depth knowledge of our Academy, the local community and club as a whole, which will help him over the coming weeks and months.”
