There must be very few sports teams left on the planet who haven't asked Jim McGuinness to have a word at this stage.
Since the 2012 All-Ireland final, Celtic, the European Ryder Cup team and now the rapacious capitalist beast that is Saracens FC (you know you're deep into rugby territory when they don't even feel to use the word rugby in the title) have all sought to benefit from the magic that McGuinness dispenses.
That all those three outfits were led by Irishmen may not be incidental to McGuinness getting involved. Saracens have been coached since 2011 by former Ireland and Ulster centre Mark McCall.
Saracens are particularly fond of drafting in outside inspirational speakers. Sprinting legend Michael Johnson, Formula One... legend (why not?) Jackie Stewart and former England cricket captain Andrew Strauss have all given Saracens the benefit of their insight. And then there have been a parade of army generals and polar explorers.
McCall was complimentary about McGuinness' impact on the team.
When he took over at Donegal in 2010, they hadn’t won a game for three seasons and hadn’t won a championship for 19 seasons.
He took them on a journey over four years and it seemed like a very similar journey to our own.
He captivated the group for an hour. He is an extremely passionate speaker and he was fantastic for the players, who really enjoyed it.
I am not from Donegal, but I studied the story from afar and admired what he did. He had a very interesting story.
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