Stephen O’Donnell returns to football as Bohemians assistant manager

He will now link up with Alan Reynolds, who took charge of the club last March, with Bohs currently fifth in the table and seven points off leaders Shelbourne with a game in hand. Trevor Croly, who had been assisting the first-team on a temporary basis, will now step back to concentrate his role with Bohs’ U-20s.

The 38-year-old won a league and cup double as a player at Dalymount Park in 2008, before going on to win more Premier Division medals with Shamrock Rovers and as captain, Dundalk.

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In his first managerial post the Galway man led St Patrick’s Athletic to FAI Cup glory in 2021, beating Bohs on penalties in the 2021 decider, before controversially leaving Richmond Park just days later to take the reins at Dundalk.

In 2022 he led the Lilywhites to third place and Europa Conference League qualification, but missed out on Europe the following season after a fifth-place finish.

This term however, Dundalk endured their worst ever start to a league campaign, with three points and zero wins from their opening eight games before O’Donnell was sacked early last month. Owner Brian Ainscough, who took control of the Louth club over the winter, admitted results had forced the club’s hand in their decision to axe the head coach.

But O’Donnell has today returned to the League of Ireland, with the Phibsboro side winless in their last three after Monday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Galway United.

“I can’t wait to get cracking. I’ve always had a good relationship with Alan, and the stars aligned in recent weeks with me leaving Dundalk and with Alan looking for a permanent assistant manager,” said O’Donnell in a statement this afternoon.

“I’ve watched from afar as Bohs have grown over the past number of years, and you can feel the potential that there is at the club.

"There is great scope to build on that potential here and to be successful under Alan. We have a lot of hard work to do to make that happen and that is a challenge I am really looking forward to being a part of.”

Bohs boss Alan Reynolds said: “Stephen will bring fantastic qualities to the club from the vast experience he has had in the league over many years as both a player and a manager in his own right.

"He has a fantastic approach to the game and we share similar beliefs on how the game should be approached. He’s a winner, and I am really looking forward to working with him.

“I also want to thank Trevor Croly, who stepped up from his role as U-20s manager to assist me with the first team on a temporary basis since I came to the club. His experience and knowledge has been invaluable to me, and will remain invaluable as he brings players through from the U20s to the first team.”

Bohemians face an away trip to Derry City this Friday, while O’Donnell will come up against his former employers in September.