Fergal Harkin

Fergal Harkin is a former League of Ireland footballer and current "Director of Football" for Standard Liège^[1] He is from Ballyliffin in Inishowen, County Donegal in Ireland.^[2]

Harkin started his amateur football career with his local club Clonmany Shamrocks, who play in the Inishowen Football League. He then signed for Leicester City F.C. while a student at Loughborough University. He was later released and joined Bohemian F.C. for the 1998/1999 season, however moved to Finn Harps F.C. later that season.^[3] He appeared in that season's FAI Cup final for Finn Harps but was on the losing side to Bray Wanderers. He was Finn Harps player of the year in the 1999/2000 season.^[4]

Harkin re-joined Bohemians in June 2001 and won the first major honour when he played his part in Bohemian's league win of 2002/2003.^[5] He was voted "player of the year" at Bohemians in both 2005 and 2006. He retired at the end of the 2007 season due to injury.

Harkin has a degree in Physical Education and Sports Science at Loughborough University and a Masters in Business Studies from University College Dublin. After retiring from football, he worked for Nike for 6 years.^{[citation needed]} From 2009 to 2022 he worked for Manchester City Football Club, first a scout and later as "Football Partnerships and Pathways Manager".^[6] He was heavily rumoured to be appointed Director of Football at Celtic F.C. in 2021.^[7][8] However, less than a year later, on 17 May 2022, he was appointed by Standard de Liège as their new manager in charge of deploying the sport strategy of the club in the long term. Harkin was the first significant lateral hire of Standard de Liège after the arrival of 777 Partners as new majority shareholder.^[9]

References

1. "Fergal Harkin confirmed as sporting director of Standard Liege". The Irish Independent. 17 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
2. "Fergal Harkin's rise from League of Ireland to the heart of Manchester City's success story". The Irish Independent. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
3. "Harkin's year in the life". The Irish Times. 5 May 1999. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
4. "Rejection, Cup Agony, Relegation, Retirement -Fergal-Harkins journey to Premier League". Donegal Daily. 12 April 2020. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
5. "Donegal's FergalHarkin appointed as Standard Liègesporting director". Irish Examiner. 9 May 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
6. "Previous meeting gives Jim McGuinness insight into new Celtic manager Ronny Delia". Donegal News. 13 June 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
7. "Fergal Harkin 'well equipped' for Celtic Sporting Director job after unique Manchester City role". Glasgow Times. 16 March 2021. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
8. "Fergal Harkin to remain in Man City role as Celtic Director of Football rumours scotched". Irish Independent. 1 June 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2023.
9. "Fergal Harkin, nouveau directeur sportif du Standard : "Il faudra probablement deux ou trois mercatos pour amener le club où nous voulons l'amener"". Radio-télévision belge de la Communauté française (RTBF). 1 August 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2023.