Brian McIver | |
Clyears: | 2002 |
Club: | Ballinderry Shamrocks |
Winningclubs: | Ballinderry Shamrocks |
Clallireland: | 1 |
County: | Donegal Down (backroom) Derry |
Icyears: | 2005–2008 2010 2012–2015 |
Winningcounties: | Donegal |
League: | 1 |
Brian McIver is a Gaelic football manager who has been in charge of two county teams and been part of another that played in an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final. He was the 2007 National Football League-winning manager.
A Tyrone native, McIver led Ballinderry Shamrocks to an All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship. Appointed manager of Donegal (in what was his first involvement at inter-county level), McIver led Donegal to an Ulster Senior Football Championship final in his first championship campaign. He then led Donegal to a National League title in 2007. His time as Donegal manager also saw him give a 17-year-old Michael Murphy his debut and he gave Neil McGee, Frank McGlynn, Rory Kavanagh and Anthony Thompson their first championship starts.[1]
McIver received a degree from Coleraine, a PGCE from Queen's University and a master's from Jordanstown. He headed to St Mary's, where his involvement with Paddy Tally began. Tally got involved with Down and brought McIver in along with him.[2] McIver was part of the Down backroom team for the 2010 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final. McIver said in 2022 that he still thought Down would have won that game if Ambrose Rogers hadn't injured himself.[2]
McIver was appointed Derry manager in 2012,[3] being announced in the same month Jim McGuinness led McIver's former Donegal players to an All-Ireland Senior Football Championship title.[1] Joe Brolly was particularly critical of McIver's management. McIver brought Derry to a Division 1 final in 2014. He quit the Derry management role in 2015, criticising Conor Lane on live television in his parting interview while confirming his departure.[4] [5] [6] [7] Earlier that season, he had criticised David Coldrick and then Ciaran Brannigan.[8]
But McIver remained as Oak Leaf Director of Football.[9] He spent three years as Oak Leaf Director of Football after quitting as Derry manager.[2] He was reported to be stepping down after four years in 2019.[10]
McIver's son Michael is a Gaelic footballer, and McIver has managed him.[11]