Former Derry City manager Jim McLaughlin has died, aged 83

LEGENDARY former Derry City player and manager Jim McLaughlin has died aged 83.

Arguably McLaughlin’s greatest achievement as a manager was guiding his hometown club to a domestic treble of trophies in 1989.

First playing for the Candystripes at 16, McLaughlin’s talents took him across the water, where he played for Birmingham, Swansea and Shrewsbury before returning to Ireland, where he took on a player/manager role at Dundalk.

McLaughlin also lined up for the Northern Ireland national team on 12 occasions, scoring six goals for the Green and White Army.

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During his time in as a player/coach in Co Louth, McLaughlin won three leagues and three FAI cups, including the double in 1978/79.

His success during his time at Oriel Park was not only domestic, managing to make the European Cup round-of-16 with the Lilywhites in 1980, getting knocked out by Celtic, and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1982, losing out to Tottenham Hotspur.

A year later, McLaughlin took his talents to Dublin, more specifically to Shamrock Rovers, where he won the next three League of Ireland titles with the Tallaght side.

He also led the Hoops to two FAI Cups during that period of dominance.

He then went Foyleside and returned to his native Derry City, with his historic treble season in 1989 coming not long after.

After leaving his beloved Derry in 1991 he later went on to co-manage Shelbourne FC with Pat Byrne where another league was won in 1992.

He finished out his career at Drogheda United and finally back at Dundalk, getting relegated three times in total between the two clubs before retiring from football.

SDLP leader and MP for Foyle, Colum Eastwood said: “Jim McLaughlin was a real-life Derry legend.

“You name it, he won it, and he gave everyone who followed his teams a lot of happy memories along the way - especially during the ‘89 treble campaign.”

McLaughlin also managed the League of Ireland XI and the Irish Olympic side and in February 2002, was awarded the FAI Special Merit Award in recognition of his achievements and dedication within the domestic game.

He was also given the freedom of the city of Derry in 2019, “in recognition of the outstanding record in Irish Football and as the only Team Manager who won the Treble in the League of Ireland.”