Former Louth supremo Ger Brennan has been rewarded for his exploits in leading the Wee County to their first Leinster title in 68 years by being given the Dublin senior football job on a three year contract.
He succeeds Dessie Farrell, who led the Dubs to two Sam Maguire successes on top of the five titles delivered by Jim Gavin before that.
However with most of the old timers now retired, St Vincent’s man Brennan is taking on the job at the beginning rather than the start or middle of a new era - and his brief will be to find players to make Dublin competitive at the cutting edge of league and championship fare in ‘26 and beyond.
Speaking to Dubs TV, Brennan said: "I feel very fortunate to have been given this opportunity to continue to build and add to the success of my predecessors, a couple of great men who I've been fortunate enough to play under.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed my experiences elsewhere over the last number of years. I learned quite along that journey, making new friends too. And with Dessie stepping away after an incredible six years of service that he gave - and more than that with the Under-20s and minors and his own playing career - the stars aligned in terms of myself and the opportunity that's here right now.
"As a player myself, something we were always taught by managers and coaches, was to try to leave the jersey in a better place. That's something I'll be working hard at. To ensure that when my term comes to an end that I've been able to build on the success of my predecessors."
Brennan promised that there would be a “a nice blend of continuity from Dessie Farrell's set-up. And then I'll integrate a couple of guys I would have played with myself over the years and they're very much looking forward to getting involved.”
The new manager was an influential figure operating from center-back on the Dublin All-Ireland winning sides of 2011 and 2013, but it was his exploits in getting Louth over the line to win Leinster this summer which added to his growing reputation as one of the best up and coming young coaches.
Brennan left Louth shortly after losing heavily to Donegal in the preliminary quarter-final after Farrell had stepped down following a six-years stint with the Dubs.
Confirming the news, Dublin GAA said last week: “Ger has achieved the highest honors as a player with Dublin and he has our full support in leading the Dublin senior football panel in pursuit of further honours in the coming years."
Added Dublin county board chairman Ken O'Sullivan: "We wish Ger, his team and the panel the very best and look forward to the 2026 season.”
Former teammate and six-time Celtic Cross winner Paul Flynn believes there is a big job of work to be done in the capital to get the side back up near the top.
On RTE radio he said: “I think it's going to be important for everybody in Dublin GAA because the team he's inheriting is not the team that Dessie inherited.
“There's a lot of work that needs to be done at the squad level, and at the underage level where we're not competing, so there's not that conveyor belt that people thought was never ending in Dublin.
“It's actually more akin to the team that Pat Gilroy picked up when he had to take on the challenge to try and build character in the group to start with and then layer on the quality. I'm sure Pat, a good club man of his, will be there as a mentor whenever it's needed. I'm not sure if he's even going to be involved of any nature but he'll certainly be there to guide Ger.
“That'll be helpful because what Pat did when he came in was really about resetting things and trying to work from the bottom up."
