GAA Manager Turnover High as 11 Bosses Leave Posts

The inter-county football landscape has experienced significant upheaval following the conclusion of the 2025 season. A total of 11 managers have departed their posts, leaving just three vacancies remaining to be filled as the picture for 2026 begins to emerge [4]. This fluid movement of personnel highlights the demanding and often precarious nature of the management roles within the sport [4].

Key takeaways

• Eleven inter-county football managers have left their positions since the end of the 2025 season [4].
• Andy Moran and Dermot McCabe were recently appointed as managers for Mayo and Cavan respectively [4].
• Three vacancies currently remain in Westmeath, Waterford, and Antrim [4].
• Twenty-one of the 29 current managers are natives of the counties they manage [4].

Recent departures and new arrivals

The recent appointments of Andy Moran and Dermot McCabe as Mayo and Cavan managers respectively mark significant returns to their home counties [4]. Moran, a former Footballer of the Year, brings extensive experience from his time as a coach with Monaghan and a three-year tenure as Leitrim manager [4]. McCabe, who currently works as a coach for Cavan GAA, previously spent a year with Westmeath and was part of Mickey Graham's backroom team during the 2020 Ulster title victory [4]. Other recent changes include Paul Madden taking the role in Clare and Mark Dowd being unveiled as the new boss for Roscommon [4].

Despite these hires, the process is