Paul Galvin's autobiography 'In My Own Words' is just out and it is an excellent read.
Here are ten things that we learned from it.
The worst inter-county footballer he ever faced was...
There are not many digs thrown in the book, but one of the few is at Clare's John Hayes who Galvin faced in the 2012 qualifiers. The Clare wingback is referred to as the worst footballer he ever faced at inter-county level. The mention in the book may have something to do with Hayes "having the most to say for himself on the field".
He discovered skinny jeans in Australia
After a Kerry team holiday to Australia at the end of 2006, Galvin stayed on a bit longer with a few other Kerry players. It was in Sydney at a place called the "General Pants Company" that he discovered skinny jeans for the first time.
He once did 100 sit up and press ups in the pub jacks
Galvin had shoulder surgery in 2000 to alleviate an ongoing problem. So obsessed was he with coming back better than ever and in turn making the Kerry senior panel, he did 100 sit ups and press ups in the toilets of the Bailey in Cork.
He briefly considered retirement in 2009
After getting sent off in the Munster final replay against Cork in 2009 he decided to retire. Jack O'Connor talked him out of it over a steak in Kenmare, telling him of the "congratulations being meted out" on the Cork sideline when the red card was issued.
Enda McNulty helped him win 2009 Footballer of the Year
Following his sending of against Cork and his brief flirtation with retirement, Galvin sought out the help of sports psychologist Enda McNulty.
The Armaghman told him that he needed to switch off more in the run up to games. This led to Galvin developing interests in music and fashion into hobbies, things other than football that could occupy his mind. He credits this change in his approach to being a major factor in him winning 2009 Footballer of the Year.
Doesn't trust ghostwriters
Tadhg Kennelly's experience with his ghostwritten book made him weary of the practice. It seems this is, partially at least, why he wrote this book himself.
Kennelly caught Nicholas Murphy with a shoulder at the start of the 2009 All-Ireland final. In Kennelly's book, it was suggested that this was deliberate and in a news paper serialisation that it was premeditated. This led Galvin to believe that "ghost-written books could haunt you if you weren't careful".
He can't swim
On a Kerry team holiday in Jamaica, he decided that he was going to do a 40 foot cliff jump. The thing was, he couldn't swim. So Kieran Donaghy jumped in before him and waited below (despite the protestations of the lifeguards) and waited to help his teammate ashore.
He says this story best sums up his teammates.
He found the changing of trainers harder than the changing of managers
Galvin played under four different Kerry managers but six different physical trainers. He says that he found the constant changing of trainer tougher to deal with than the changing of manager but that this was "just down to me and my body".
He felt more like a defender than an attacker
That was my instinct on the field. I always felt more like a defender than an attacker.
He never applied for a job with Sky Sports
When news broke that Sky Sports would be covering GAA, the Kerryman was immediately installed as one of the favourites for a role with the broadcaster. One paper reported that he and Sky could not agree contractual terms.
This led to Galvin having to explain to numerous people "why I didn't get a job I didn't apply for or want."
