Brian Cody's Hurling Philosophy

By Brian Cody.

Brian Cody (born 12 July 1954) is a hurling manager and former player. He has been the manager of the Kilkenny senior team since 1998, where he has since become the county's longest-serving manager and most successful in terms of major titles won. Cody is regarded as the greatest manager in the history of the game.

Born in Sheestown, County Kilkenny, Cody was introduced to hurling by his father Brian senior the long-serving chairman of the local club team. He enjoyed All-Ireland success at colleges level as captain with St. Kieran's College while simultaneously enjoying championship successes at underage levels with the James Stephens club. A two-time All-Ireland medallist with the James Stephens senior team, Cody also won two Leinster medals and three championship medals.

Cody made his debut on the inter-county scene at the age of sixteen when he first linked up with the Kilkenny minor team. An All-Ireland-winning captain in this grade, he later won two All-Ireland medals with the under-21 team. Cody made his senior debut during the 1973 championship. He went on to play a key role for Kilkenny in attack and later defence during a hugely successful era, and won three All-Ireland medals, four Leinster medals and two National Hurling League medals. An All-Ireland runner-up on two occasions, Cody captained the team to All-Ireland victory in 1982.

After being involved in team management and coaching in all grades at club level with James Stephens, Cody was appointed manager of the Kilkenny senior team on 16 November 1998. He has since gone on to lead Kilkenny through a period of unprecedented provincial and national dominance, winning 43 major honours. These include eleven All-Ireland Championships, including a record-equalling four-in-a-row between 2006 and 2009, sixteen Leinster Championships in twenty two seasons, nine National Leagues, including five league-championship doubles, and seven Walsh Cups.

Brian Cody Hurling Philosophy