Waterford FC are delighted to announce the appointment of Graham Coughlan as our new First-Team Head Coach.
Coughlan, a Dublin native, had a 19-year playing career, before moving into management in 2018 at Bristol Rovers. He has joined the club on a contract until the end of the season.
The 51-year-old had spells in charge of Newport County in League Two, and most recently with Boston United in the National League, where he helped secure the sides safety from relegation after a poor start to the 2024/25 season prior to his appointment, with Coughlan picking up the March Manager of the Month award during that season, after picking up 20 points from 9 matches in that timeframe.
Speaking on his appointment with the Blues, Coughlan spoke of his eagerness to get straight to work with the squad, saying:
“I’m delighted to be here at the club. The move happened very quickly, as is the life of football, but I’m excited for this opportunity.
We’re straight to work now, focusing towards Friday’s game against St. Patrick’s Athletic and the games to follow after that.
With a busy fixture schedule ahead of us, it’s time to get our heads down and prepare properly, starting with Friday night.”
Club Chairman Jamie Pilley is delighted to welcome Coughlan to the RSC, outlining:
“We are delighted to have appointed someone with such experience as Graham at a time when it’s needed the most.
Graham is a manager who has dragged teams out of trouble on many occasions in the past and we obviously have a very important stage of the season coming up.
Despite the league position, I think performances in flashes have shown we are more than capable of getting out of the situation we currently find ourselves in.
The support the club and the players have received in recent months has blown me away, The Blues supporters are unique – you really do stand by your club when the going gets tough.
Hopefully this appointment can act as a turning point in the season and we can all pull something special off together.”
Coughlan will be in the dug-out for the Blues’ trip to Inchicore on Friday night, as we take on St. Patrick’s Athletic in our latest SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game – live on Virgin Media.
A further announcement regarding Coughlan’s back-room team will be made in due course.
Welcome to Waterford, Graham!
