Galway United are delighted to announce the appointment of Colin Fortune as first-team assistant manager.
Fortune is an experienced League of Ireland coach
and former player. The Athlone native has managed his hometown club and was
also in charge of academy sides at Athlone Town Stadium.
Fortune enjoyed a lengthy playing career in the
League of Ireland and he made the move to Galway United from Athlone Town in
the 2000/2001 season. Fortune was a combative midfielder, that was highly
regarded at the club. He spent a total of six seasons at Eamonn Deacy Park and
was also appointed club captain.
He returned to Athlone Town before finishing his
playing career at League of Ireland level with Kildare County and then his
focus quickly switched to the coaching side of the game.
Speaking to www.galwayunitedfc.ie, Fortune spoke of
his pride at rejoining the club and his excitement about starting his role at
Eamonn Deacy Park.
"It's great to be back in Galway. I'm honoured
to be involved. Galway United is a big club and it always was a big club. When
Alan asked me, I was over the moon. I know Alan for a long time and there is
real drive and ambition there.
"The club had a tough season in 2019 with a lot
of young players coming in but by god did they do well. The average age was
very young and a lot of fellas got their first chance to play League of Ireland
football and that will stand to them and hopefully they will kick-on in the
coming season.
"It's very exciting to get back involved at
this level, lots of people knock the league, but it's very professional and
what we will put into it as a coaching team is professionalism. We will try and
get a few experienced heads in to help the younger players at the club, I think
that's important. The younger players here are very good, but they do need a
wise head around them to give them a dig out and give them a bit of experience.
"I loved my time at Galway United as a player,
I have nothing but fond memories. The supporters really took to me and they
supported me right through the six seasons I had here. It's great to come back
in a professional capacity as Alan's assistant and I really can't wait to get
started."
Colin Fortune was a former teammate of Tribesmen
boss Alan Murphy but he insists the addition of Fortune to his backroom team
goes beyond their playing days together at Eamonn Deacy Park.
"I was looking for not just an experienced
League of Ireland player, but a mind, that could bring the project to the next
level. I wanted somebody that could challenge me and be a good addition to the
dressing room in terms of the qualities and characteristics that I admire in a
coach and a person.
"I've harped on about the dressing room and
bringing in the right type of characters and that extends beyond the players
also. You need to surround yourself with people you can trust and that you know
will be as hard working as yourself.
"Colin thinks about the game in the same way as
I do, a lot of his philosophies would align well with my own. He's a straight
talker and won't be afraid to voice his opinion and he'll be a really good foil
for myself and he'll challenge me and we'll work well together.
"When I was looking for an assistant, there
were a lot of candidates, but he was a person that really ticked all of the
boxes and stood out for me and I believe he can help us to take the club to the
next level."
