Scottish football lures “The Doog”
Brian Doogan (left) with members of Hibs backroom staff
Award-winning sports writer Brian Doogan (pictured), who had spells as communications chief at Aston Villa and Everton FC, has been “signed” by leading Scottish football team Hibernian.
With a wealth of experience behind him, from successful careers in sports media, public relations and corporate communications, Brian has joined the club’s backroom team as Head of Technical Support following the appointment of new manager Shaun Maloney.
Brian, a member of the Birmingham Press Club who has recently been completing his Masters in Sport Directorship at MMU, said: “I’m really proud to be part of Shaun’s staff at Hibernian and to be working on the technical side of the club.
The vision for the club is to build something special with a focus on the development of young players especially and on exciting, possession-based football. There is great potential at the club and a lot of work to be done to realise our goals. It’s a really exciting opportunity, one I’m enjoying immensely.”
During a 12-year period from 1997 to 2009, Brian was a reporter for the Daily Express and from 2002 onwards The Sunday Times. In 2004 he was named Specialist Correspondent of the Year in the prestigious British Sports Journalism Awards and his collaboration with former BBC Sports Personality of the Year Joe Calzaghe became a Sunday Times bestseller, in addition to being shortlisted in the British Sports Book Awards for best autobiography.
The “SuperFight” between Marvelous Marvin Hagler and Sugar Ray Leonard - a $100 million showdown at Caesars Palace in 1987 - was also the subject of a book by Brian who for 20 years reported on fights and fighters across Europe and the USA for boxing’s bible, The Ring.
Brian was appointed as Villa’s Head of Media and Communications in 2009 - while Martin O’Neill was manager and a year after Shaun Maloney left the club after having made 30 appearances in a Villa shirt from 2007-2008. Brian stayed with the club until January 2015 when he became Head of Media and Communications at Everton.
Prior to becoming manager of Hibernian, Maloney was serving as Roberto Martinez’s assistant with the Belgian national team, the No.1-ranked team in international football since 2018.
