Cliftonville vs Linfield 04/05/24

CLIFTONVILLE BACKROOM STAFF

Words Conor McLaughlin

Jim Magilton Manager

Gerard Lyttle Assistant Manager

Ricky McCann Strength & Conditioning

Rob Murdie Goalkeeping Coach

Jim Magilton became the 29th appointed manager of Cliftonville Football Club in June of last year and recently became the fifth successive Reds boss to achieve European qualification in his first season at the helm. In a playing career that saw him make his Irish League debut for Distillery at the age of just 15, midfielder Magilton signed professionally with Liverpool before going on to represent Oxford United and played Premier League football for Southampton, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town, where he took up his first managerial role in a three-year spell between 2006 and 2009. A stint in charge of Queens Park Rangers preceded the 52-times capped former Northern Ireland captain being appointed as Michael O’Neill’s assistant manager during an historically successful spell at Shamrock Rovers prior to his installation as boss of Melbourne Victory in the Australian A-League. In 2013 Magilton was appointed Elite Performance Director by the Irish Football Association and later served as manager of the Northern Ireland Under-21 side ahead of taking up a Sporting Director position at Dundalk, where he also briefly served as interim manager in 2021.

A former Cliftonville player, coach and manager, ‘Skin’ returned to Solitude as assistant to Jim Magilton last year. Appointed boss in the aftermath of Tommy Breslin’s resignation, Lyttle oversaw the club’s fourth consecutive League Cup triumph in 2015 and a Europa League victory over Luxembourgian side Differdange the following summer. After stepping down as Reds chief in 2017, Lyttle took over the reins at Sligo Rovers and also had a period in charge of Northern Ireland’s Under-17 and Under-19 sides prior to his latest return to Cliftonville.

A valuable member of Tommy Breslin’s staff during Cliftonville’s title triumphs of 2013 and 2014, Ricky returned to the Reds in the summer of 2023. One of the leading sports scientists in the country, Ricky has been a key component of both Linfield and Northern Ireland’s backroom teams in recent years. He also provides support to Olympic and Paralympic athletes through his work at the Sports Institute.

A goalkeeping coach of some repute, Rob made the move to Cliftonville from Ballyclare Comrades last summer. A UEFA Goalkeeping B Licence holder, Rob is also the head goalkeeping coach at Belfast Met’s academy and is highly respected for his work at the Rangers Academy NI and NIGK Institute, where he has developed and coached elite academy and professional club goalkeepers.

Gary Crosbie Physiotherapist

Dr John Campbell Doctor

Brian Campbell Kitman

Most recently with Ballymena United, Gary has prior experience with Donegal Celtic as well as the Body Basics Sports Injury Clinic. He also joined Cliftonville’s backroom staff last summer.

A long-serving custodian of Cliftonville FC, Dr Campbell arrived at Solitude in 1991. During his dedicated service he has enjoyed three league title successes, five League Cup crowns and a host of other honours, to which his contribution cannot be overlooked. He was inducted into the club’s Hall of Fame five years ago.

A nephew of the club doctor, Brian first stepped into the kitman’s role back in 2007 and has been trusted by a succession of Cliftonville managers ever since as well as undertaking the same job on the international stage with Northern Ireland’s Under-21s.

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