Ton up for Foster
Credit:
Symmetry is a wonderful thing. This weekend Dundalk boss Ian Foster will take charge of his 100th competitive game as a football manager and, as his side take on Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park, he also finds himself in pursuit of his 100th league point.
Foster first came to the League when he was appointed as Jeff Kenna’s assistant at Galway United in April 2008. When Kenna departed for St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of the 2009 season it was Foster who was given the task of replacing him. He led the Tribesmen to eighth place in the Premier Division in his first season, winning 14 of his 41 competitive games in charge.
However, behind the statistics, Foster was building a reputation as an intelligent young manager and in December of 2009 he was offered the hot seat at Oriel Park while the previous incumbent, Sean Connor, traveled in the opposite direction.
Under Foster Dundalk enjoyed a terrific start to 2010, leading the Premier Division table in the early months and beating CS Grevenmacher of Luxembourg in the Europa League. However, a heavy defeat to Levski Sofia in the next round coincided with a crippling spate of injuries that seriously hampered the Lilywhites ambitions for the remainder of the season.
Ultimately Foster’s side finished sixth in the table and they enjoyed little in the way of Cup success. But this new season has seen the Co Louth club blaze a trail through the Setanta Cup, beating Linfield and Glentoran to reach the semi-finals where they defeated Cliftonville 3-1 at Solitude in the first leg a fortnight ago.
In all Foster has been in charge at Oriel Park for 58 competitive games winning 23 of them. So hats off to the Liverpudlian as he approaches his 100th managerial outing seeking three points against Sligo to match the achievement with 100 league points.
Ian Foster’s overall record in League of Ireland management:
P99 W37 D18 L44 F121 A148.
Win rate: 37.4%.
Foster first came to the League when he was appointed as Jeff Kenna’s assistant at Galway United in April 2008. When Kenna departed for St Patrick’s Athletic at the end of the 2009 season it was Foster who was given the task of replacing him. He led the Tribesmen to eighth place in the Premier Division in his first season, winning 14 of his 41 competitive games in charge.
However, behind the statistics, Foster was building a reputation as an intelligent young manager and in December of 2009 he was offered the hot seat at Oriel Park while the previous incumbent, Sean Connor, traveled in the opposite direction.
Under Foster Dundalk enjoyed a terrific start to 2010, leading the Premier Division table in the early months and beating CS Grevenmacher of Luxembourg in the Europa League. However, a heavy defeat to Levski Sofia in the next round coincided with a crippling spate of injuries that seriously hampered the Lilywhites ambitions for the remainder of the season.
Ultimately Foster’s side finished sixth in the table and they enjoyed little in the way of Cup success. But this new season has seen the Co Louth club blaze a trail through the Setanta Cup, beating Linfield and Glentoran to reach the semi-finals where they defeated Cliftonville 3-1 at Solitude in the first leg a fortnight ago.
In all Foster has been in charge at Oriel Park for 58 competitive games winning 23 of them. So hats off to the Liverpudlian as he approaches his 100th managerial outing seeking three points against Sligo to match the achievement with 100 league points.
Ian Foster’s overall record in League of Ireland management:
P99 W37 D18 L44 F121 A148.
Win rate: 37.4%.
About Simon O'Gorman
Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile