Managing Cork City was a dream, reflects John Caulfield

A dream and a privilege to have been given the opportunity, John Caulfield said it was like “going to heaven every day” during his time managing Cork City. Speaking for the first time since his departure from Turner’s Cross five weeks ago, Caulfield has been happy to just catch his breath again having given everything to the job.

Appointed in November 2013 after the team had finished mid-table that season, Caulfield immediately transformed City into a far more competitive side and the only real challengers to a dominant Dundalk under Stephen Kenny. In his subsequent five-and-a-half years at the helm, Cork won the league and cup double in 2017 as they retained the FAI Cup lifted the previous year. In every one of his five full seasons in charge, his team pushed Dundalk all the way.