Éamonn Fitzmaurice will remain as Kerry manager in 2018

Kerry manager Éamonn Fitzmaurice will remain in his role for a sixth season in 2018.

His current management team will also remain in place, and Kerry county board say that additions to the backroom team will be announced “in due course”.

Furthermore, county board chairman Tim Murphy says that he will be proposing Fitzmaurice be ratified as senior manager for a further two year term (2019 and 2020) at next month's county board meeting. He intends on Fitzmaurice overseeing a three year development programme for the senior squad.

An All-Ireland winner as a player in 2000, 2004 and 2006; and as a manager in 2014, Fitzmaurice has taken on a one year extension for the second season running.

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Initially the 40 year-old took on a three year term in 2012, before agreeing on an additional term in September 2016, winning this year's national football league and his fifth Munster title in a row. The team however were defeated by Mayo in their All-Ireland semi-final replay.

In his sixth season next summer, the pressure will be amplified as the Kingdom's great rivals Dublin go for four in a row, and the likes of David Clifford filter in from the county's fourth consecutive All-Ireland winning team.

On Friday morning Tim Murphy, chairman of the Kerry county board, released the following statement;

“I am pleased to advise that the Kerry senior football team manager, Éamonn Fitzmaurice, has confirmed that he will continue in his role for the 2018 season. His current management team will remain in place and additions to the backroom team will be announced in due course.

“This decision is very welcome and removes any uncertainty, allowing us to begin our preparations for the forthcoming season.

“Despite winning the Allianz League and Munster football titles this year and the continuing unprecedented success at under-age and schools grades, we all fully recognise and acknowledge the great hunger for senior championship success among the Kerry GAA community.

“Working closely with Éamonn and his management team, the Kerry county board is determined to provide the resources and supports necessary in order to ensure that Kerry achieves this success as soon as possible.

“To that end, the county board and the senior team management have agreed to develop in the coming months, a three year programme of supports for the senior panel, with particular emphasis on player development and progression together with strength and conditioning. The imminent completion of the centre of excellence in Currans will enable us to deliver these programmes within a state of the art facility in a co-ordinated and streamlined approach.

“In order to provide stability and underpin this programme I will be proposing that Éamonn Fitzmaurice be ratified as senior manager for a further two year term (2019/2020) at the next county board committee meeting on 16th October next. This proposal was unanimously supported by the Executive of the Kerry county board at a meeting last evening.

“I am very confident that a strong collective effort will ensure that the phenomenal success we have achieved at minor level will be translated into senior success in the coming years.”