Pic: Mark McDermott
Former club captain, Ronan Finn, is expected to be appointed the sporting director for Shamrock Rovers in the coming days. The 38-year-old is expected to replace the recently departed Stephen McPhail and be in the role for the 2026 season. Shamrock Rovers host Derry City in the President’s Cup on Saturday, 31 January, in Tallaght Stadium to kickstart the new campaign.
Ronan Finn served two stints at the club, making a total of 292 appearances across nine years. He also played a part in the historical four-in-a-row under Stephen Bradley from 2019 until 2023. Finn resigned from UCD in November 2023 and made his last appearance for the club on 17 October 2025 in an away victory over Finn Harps.
Crossroads off the pitch
The Hoops have made senior alterations of late, McPhail departing, Sean Kavanagh joining the coaching staff, and Finn expected to be the new sporting director. The club are going through a transitional phase on and off the pitch. All these changes are coming on the back of winning the double and chasing another European campaign when the qualifiers start back in the summer.
Stephen Bradley and his team are not resting on their laurels as they bid to make the next step. The manager spoke of targeting the UEFA Europa League. He also admitted he was disappointed by the club’s exit from the league phase of the UEFA Conference League after the 3-1 defeat to Breidablik. Despite the continued success of Shamrock Rovers, the mindset appears to be that there is always room for improvement.
With the club expected to look somewhat different for the 2026 campaign, the bar is expected to be set higher. Ronan Finn is acutely aware of the high expectations of Stephen Bradley, and the pair continue to have a close relationship despite his leaving three years ago.
Ronan Finn’s leadership profile
The midfielder not only served nine years across two stints at Rovers, but he also served under two managers. Michael O’Neill brought Finn to the club in 2011, and Stephen Bradley brought him back in 2017. During his time at the club, Finn won five league titles, one FAI Cup, one President’s Cup, two Setanta Sports Cups, one League Cup, and one Leinster Senior Cup. Thus, Finn knowing exactly what type of player is required of the club would be an understatement.
When departing, Bradley spoke highly of him. He said: “He set the standard and changed the culture in this club about how to lead, and he drove this team forward.” He will be a key asset in assisting the club to reach new heights.
Finn will be expected to carry out the same duties as McPhail when in the role of sporting director. He will be in the dugout for matches, something supporters will be sure to appreciate.
Institutional knowledge
The former Dundalk midfielder has an array of experience at the top level. He assisted his former side to the group stages of the UEFA Europa League. Alongside him in achieving the feat was former Hoops manager, Stephen Kenny. Finn will provide Bradley and the team with institutional knowledge and know-how on achieving such feats when all the odds are stacked against them.
Rovers have continued on an upward trajectory, qualifying for the UEFA Conference League proper for three consecutive seasons. As Bradley targets taking the next step forward, he will look to the former Rovers captain for that information. Given Finn’s time at the club, he is sure to have seen what works for Shamrock Rovers. In terms of profile, he could have a keen eye for profiling the correct talent to help the club reach new heights.
Pressures of the role
The pressure of being the Shamrock Rovers sporting director can take its toll. Stephen McPhail departed nearly six weeks ago, having held the position for nine years. He oversaw the club’s successful period of winning the double, four-in-a-row, and qualifying for Europe in three consecutive seasons. He also assisted in targeting the correct personnel so the club’s continued success would not meet any roadblocks. Overall, he leaves big shoes to fill, which Ronan Finn will be required to.
Due to the nature of the relationship between both Bradley and Finn, it is anticipated to be a seamless transition. However, the pressures to do well at the 22-time champions have arguably never been higher. The Hoops have become a regular outfit in European competition, where exit from the league phase appeared to be a disappointment.
What success would look like in the opening year
The duties and responsibilities of a role such as sporting director tend to be kept internally with little exposure to the outside world. Thus, success for Finn in his new role can be subjective. It will hinge on how much impact he made on prospective success. Should the club continue their mostly successful transfer model, it would then appear that the newest employee of the club has picked up on where McPhail has left off.
Finn has plenty of football know-how, from on the pitch to in the studio. When he departed Rovers in 2023 for UCD, it was so he could also carry out his studies. He began studying sports management in college. This qualification has likely led to his role with Shamrock Rovers and will provide him with experience in a different context.
A new challenge
Ronan Finn will be heading into a club he knows well. A club where he spent nine years of his footballing career and earned countless accolades. He spent the 2025 season with UCD and was expected to be there for the upcoming season, too. He played for the club as recently as 10 January, a friendly against Athlone Town in which he scored.
Finn was a fan favourite during his time at the Hoops and is sure to be welcomed with open arms by the supporters. This move appears to be a shrewd one from the reigning champions. The club have recently made alterations both on and off the pitch. Rovers return to action on Saturday, 31 January against Derry City in the President’s Cup.