Brian Cody has announced he is retiring as manager of the Kilkenny senior hurling team after a history-making 24-year reign.
The 68-year-old made the decision on the back of the Cats' All-Ireland final defeat to Limerick last weekend.
Cody guided the county to All-Ireland successes on 11 occasions and was the longest-serving manager in the history of the inter-county game.
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A statement from Kilkenny GAA on Saturday afternoon described Cody as the "greatest manager in the history of hurling".
It read: “Brian Cody has informed Kilkenny County Board that he is stepping down as Kilkenny Senior Hurling Team Manager. Appointed in November 1998 Brian has led the Kilkenny team to unprecedented provincial and national success and is regarded as the greatest manager in the history of hurling.
“As manager, his teams have won eleven All Ireland Hurling Championships (including a record-equalling four in a row between 2006 and 2009), eighteen Leinster Championships, ten National Hurling League titles, seven Walsh Cup titles and an Oireachtas Tournament title. In achieving all of this success Brian has created an unbreakable spirit among his players and teams which has come to define Kilkenny hurling.
“On behalf of Kilkenny people everywhere, Kilkenny County Board extends sincere gratitude to Brian for his lifetime of contribution to the county and the commitment and passion he brought as a player and as manager, working tirelessly with a single aim, to do what was best for Kilkenny hurling.
"The Board would also like to acknowledge the bond Brian helped create between Team Management, Players, County Board, Clubs and Supporters Clubs as all worked seamlessly together in preparing our teams while organising and promoting our games.
“We are aware of the huge debt we owe Brian for the wonderful successes and occasions we have enjoyed as we watched the teams he created play and succeed.
"Wherever and whenever our games are discussed in the future, Brian Cody’s achievements will be the benchmark managers will be measured by.
“We wish Brian all the best in the future. Brian, Go raibh míle maith agat, guimis gach rath ort as seo amach.
“The process of appointing a new Kilkenny Senior Hurling team manager will now begin. The County Board will not be issuing any further statement.”
Taking charge of Kilkenny in 1998, Cody guided the Cats to an All-Ireland final the following year when beaten by Cork by a single point.
Kilkenny made amends in 2000, though, when blitzing Offaly in the final by 5-15 to 1-14. It was the start of a golden era for the Cats as they would make three of the next four finals, winning twice in 2002 and 2003.
One of Cody's great achievements was guiding the Cats to four-in-row between 2006 and 2009. Indeed, for an eight-year period between 2006 and 2012, only Tipperary's 2010 success broke Kilkenny's stranglehold on the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Kilkenny's last Liam MacCarthy triumph came in 2015 when beating Galway by four points. Since then Cody led them to three more finals while they've been back in Croke Park for the decider three more times, losing to Tipperary on two occasions and most recently falling short to Limerick in a thrilling 2022 finale - the 17th All-Ireland final of Cody's reign.
In total Cody guided Kilkenny to 11 All-Ireland titles, 18 Leinster Championships and ten National League titles.
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