Pat Scully

Patrick Joseph "Pat" Scully (born 23 June 1970) is an Irish football manager and former player.

An accomplished central defender during his playing days, Scully started his career in England, gaining one international cap, two B caps, one U23 cap and nine U21 caps for the Republic of Ireland during this spell before returning to Ireland.

Scully was born in Dublin.

As a player, he started his career at Arsenal, where he was part of the youth team that won the 1988 FA Youth Cup.

He did however earn a senior cap for the Republic of Ireland whilst at Arsenal in a friendly against Tunisia in 1988.

However, after loan spells at Preston North End and Northampton Town, he signed for Southend United in January 1991 having not made a single appearance for Arsenal's first team.

Scully was a regular at Southend for three years playing for a time with Stan Collymore, before moving to Huddersfield Town in March 1994.

A month after joining he was a member of the Huddersfield side beaten in a penalty shoot-out in the final of the Football League Trophy at Wembley Stadium.

He went on to become a key figure at the heart of defence in Neil Warnock's side and helped the Terriers to promotion in the 1994–95 season.

In 1996 he moved back to Ireland to join Shelbourne.

Under his captaincy, as well as his defensive abilities, Scully was a constant threat from set pieces and would often score crucial goals for Shelbourne.

Scoring 11 league goals the following season he was the Player of the Month in September 1997 and ended the season as the PFAI Player of the Year in 1997–98.

He signed for Shamrock Rovers in June 2001.

He made his debut at Bray on 12 August and scored his first goal against Dundalk on 18 January 2002.

Scully captained Rovers during that season, when the club played in Richmond Park.

He formed a partnership in defence with Terry Palmer, the Rovers central defender who would later captain the club.

Scully led Rovers to the FAI Cup final that season, although he could not prevent Derry City winning the competition with a 1–0 win.

He was then placed on the transfer list after a difference of opinion with manager Liam Buckley.

His last game was in Longford on 23 November.

He made two appearances in European competition for the Hoops.

After two goals in 55 total appearances Scully moved to Drogheda United.

He made his debut against Rovers on 11 April 2003 and played for one season before retiring.

He was Player of the Year at Southend, Huddersfield and at Shelbourne.

Pat Scully has now moved into driving taxi cabs around Dublin town since hanging up his managerial boots.

His brother Mick also played in the League of Ireland

He was eager to stay in the game, however, and was offered a chance by Kilkenny City to begin his managerial career.

Scully took control of the unfashionable First Division club before the 2005 season.

Although the season did not begin well for Scully and Kilkenny, the side performed excellently during the second half of the season, eventually just missing out on a place in the promotion play-off.

Scully's performance as manager of Kilkenny attracted the interest of Shamrock Rovers, who had undergone massive internal restructuring since Scully's playing days.

Gone were the old board of directors, to be replaced by the 400 Club, a supporter's consortium who had saved the club from going under.

The 400 Club sacked Rovers manager Roddy Collins at the end of the 2005 season, which ended with the club being relegated for the first time in their history.

Shortly after sacking Collins, Rovers approached Scully and asked him to take over the club.

Scully was installed as Rovers manager and immediately began reshaping the playing squad.

He brought several players with him from Kilkenny, with many others signing from Kildare County and other First Division clubs.

The new-look Shamrock Rovers began their first ever season in the First Division with a late 2–1 win over Dundalk, and from there never looked back.

The club eventually won the First Division title on the last day of the season, with a 1–1 away draw to Cobh Ramblers.

Scully earned himself a reputation as the best up-and-coming manager in Ireland by winning the First Division Trophy at his first attempt.

Rovers finished the 2007 season in 5th position.

Unfortunately the young team faded badly in the final stretch and European football was missed out on but despite this it was a good overall season with many positives.

His contract with Shamrock Rovers was terminated by mutual consent on 14 October 2008.