I was on pretty much on the fence about Harte this past year, i did think that a fresh face and voice would be good but now that its official he is leaving, i feel fairly disappointed.

Its the last door closed on the the great team of noughties, which brought about some of the happiest memories a lot of Tyrone people have. The scenes in 03, to this day gives me goosebumps. Running onto the pitch after the final whistle, climbing on top of cars and walls in Omagh main street to get a view of Sam and the players on the stage, following the bus the whole way down to Aghyaran and into the late hours of the night. For weeks before the final and after it, it was all anyone could talk about. Harte was man who brought this about.

Obviously the players deserve credit, but Harte coached all those lads and brought them together perfectly. Handled the deaths of Paul McGirr and Cormac as best as anyone could have. Lesser men would have been gone long ago. He helped change the culture in Tyrone to perennial losers to winners.

The next man up has big shoes to fill.

TakeyourPoint. (Tyrone) - Posts: 132 - 13/11/2020 22:29:03    2308553

I am glad for a new era. Harte brough a lot of happiness into the county. But a shake up is definitely needed. Maybe a few new fresh faces onto the panel under a new manager can bring success as it did in 2003. All we need now is for Armagh to win the all ireland. There are plenty of good footballers in this county that never get a chance.

HighStoolBandit (Tyrone) - Posts: 91 - 13/11/2020 22:31:28    2308555

End of the greatest era in Tyrone football. Micky brought Tyrone from also rans to winners. In his 18 years he went through more than anyone would want in a lifetime. A gentleman.

Saynothing (Tyrone) - Posts: 276 - 13/11/2020 22:44:19    2308563

Best of luck to Mickey Harte on his retirement a great character of the GAA. He probably stayed on a bit too long but you can't argue against the success he brought to Tyrone during the 00's. I think RTE have being pushing an agenda for a long while for him to finish up with Tyrone too which was totally wrong all because he refused to give them interviews but I would be totally on Mickey Harte side there, after what they did to him at a very difficult period for him and his family.

All the best Mickey Harte you can go out with your head held high.

DUALSUPPORT (Limerick) - Posts: 718 - 13/11/2020 22:56:53    2308567

Want to wish Mickey all the best, didn't know him personally but often meet him at games and would always acknowledge you, I would say he anguished over this decision this past few weeks as he's given a lifetime to Tyrone gaa, won't be easy for him now for a while but he's a tough ole cookie has come through things you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, it's ironic to think his last game was against donegal probably the team he loved beaten the most but also the team he d love to see doing well once Tyrone was out of it, I was in Croker for two of his all ire wins and was delighted for him and his teams but time moves on for Everyman.
So I hope to see him soon at some game along the road and hope he's settled in himself, he certainly deserves all the accolades he gets. Good luck Mickey youv left big shoe# to fill.

Tyrion (Donegal) - Posts: 35 - 13/11/2020 22:59:30    2308568

jacktheDub (Dublin) - Posts: 910 - 13/11/2020 23:12:30    2308569

It is always sad to see an icon like Mickey Harte go, not only is it a difficult thing for Tyrone to do, it is the right thing. But you have to salute all he achieved, he has left a fantastic legacy.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4434 - 13/11/2020 23:52:03    2308583

Everything about Mickey Harte had Arsene Wengers Arsenal reign written all over it.

He took a team and led them through their most successful period, however, like Wenger, he leaves the position about 5 or 6 years too late. He leaves a great, but a great who stayed on too long, probably tarnishes his legacy as a result

Thats not to suggest fans dont idolise both men and the job they done for their respective sides in their sport, however, both Wenger and MH achieved all they could have achieved and should have stepped aside alot earlier and let someone else add a bit of freshness. Some new ideas and philosophies. Instead, they were both too stubborn and set in their ways, to the detriment of their teams as Tyrone and Arsenal ended up going stale and a bit.... meh, predictable, which is a shame and as a result are probably a few years from really competing again at the top table again.

That said, he came across as a nice fella all the same, I dont particularly agree with what happened in his private life being talked about when talking about his reign, There is no correlation between football and his private life and feel it is disrespectful to be talking about that on a public forum even if it is to compliment him.

Anyway, good luck to him.

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13574 - 14/11/2020 00:36:57    2308586

Fair play to Mickey Harte he put Tyrone football on the map. Maybe Tyrone didn't endear themselves to people at times but what he achieved will stay in the history books for eternity.

Bon (Kildare) - Posts: 979 - 14/11/2020 00:44:26    2308588

runnerin (Meath) - Posts: 194 - 14/11/2020 01:03:01    2308590

Thanks for all you gave to GAA, Micky. Sorry to see you go, you will go down in history as one of the greats. Enjoy your retirement.

GormlaighG (Mayo) - Posts: 74 - 14/11/2020 01:31:57    2308593

one of the greatest best wishes mickey

meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 459 - 14/11/2020 06:57:56    2308597

Exciting players/teams have been in Tyrone before and I'm sure will again. A manager on the sideline capable of maximising that team's potential in the biggest games isn't always easy to find. Did Monaghan have O'Rourke 5 or 10 years too late!? Did Laois have the right management team at the right time after their late 90's minor success, did Limerick or Galway hurlers have the right person in place in the years before their All Ireland wins?

There are many examples of counties stumbling across a golden generation but not having the right person to maximise that talent. Mickey Harte oversaw and built Tyrone's golden generation and won the county 3 All Ireland's; their first All Irelands. After that generation he kept them competitive and ensured the county went through transitions and remained competitive. I'm convinved only for the best team to play the game emerging he'd have added another 1 or 2 All Ireland's in the late 10's.

A truly great manager; some say Tyrone won't win another All Ireland with him; I'd say they'd have been Div 2/3 with short summers during large parts of the "10" years without him. Tyrone may be producing some exciting talent again; the big task now is finding a manager capable of maximising it's potential and having the tactical ingame ability/knowledge to win the biggest teams and ultimately the All Ireland.

Mickey was an All Ireland winning manager - I hope he enjoys his retirement; his Tyrone legacy is confirmed. Tyrone may realise finding Senior All Ireland winning managers harder than they currently realise and may wish he was back there.

sam1884 (UK) - Posts: 707 - 14/11/2020 07:32:04    2308599

One of the all time great managers.
Leaves Tyrone in a position of strength.
Nice job for Rochford ;

BeJasus (UK) - Posts: 255 - 14/11/2020 07:36:27    2308600

Hope he enjoys his retirement. A great manager

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 14/11/2020 07:50:19    2308603

We have had our rivalries down the years and no love lost at times, but what Mickey Harte did with Tyrone was phenomenal. For any manager to win Sam Maguire 3 times is wonderful, but to do it in a county who hadn't previously one it is special.

Some of my best GAA memories are Tyrone sticking it to Kerry over and over again despite the media distaste for them. He kept pushing new boundaries in terms of what Tyrone could achieve. It probably shone a difficult light on us in Donegal too and I would argue our own culture change was hastened by being next door to Tyrone who were competing at the highest level.

I've had the pleasure of listening to Mickey Harte twice in my workplace speaking about team and organisational culture. He is one very articulate, clever and passionate man. He is a man of conviction and I will always admire his achievements with Tyrone. There should be a statue of the man at the Ballygawley roundabout (if the other crowd didn't mind!)

Donegal_abroad (Donegal) - Posts: 895 - 14/11/2020 08:52:31    2308611

He mentioned that he seeked one final year, because six months of this year were lost to Covid, and was knockout. Probaly would have wanted a full year with McShane, McKenna.
They are forwards which Tyrone lacked for a while

FoolsGold (Cavan) - Posts: 2216 - 14/11/2020 09:09:56    2308614

sean og (Armagh) - Posts: 1017 - 14/11/2020 09:54:20    2308616

Why is this being painted as him stepping down in the media ? He wanted to stay

Breezy (Limerick) - Posts: 1106 - 14/11/2020 10:05:42    2308617

browncows (Meath) - Posts: 2189 - 14/11/2020 10:17:11    2308618