Brian Cody is easily hurling's most decorated manager.
He first became manager of Kilkenny in November 1998 and he guided The Cats to the All-Ireland final the next year. From there, Cody led the county to 11 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships, 18 Leinster Senior Hurling Championships and 10 National Hurling Leagues.
RSVP Live have covered his life away from sport where he is married to former Wexford Camogie star Elsie Walsh and they have two sons, Donncha and Diarmuid, who have both played for Kilkenny.
Family life with wife Elsie and two kids Donnacha and Diarmuid
Brian Cody was born on July 12, 1954, to Bill Cody and Annie Hoyne in Kilkenny. He is married to wife Elsie Walsh.
She is a former Wexford Camogie player. During her time on the pitch, she played alongside Margaret O’Leary Leacy, mother of present day Wexford players, Mary and Una; Bridie Doran, sister of Wexford hurler, Mick Jacob and sister-in-law of All-Star, Tony Doran.
The pair have two sons together. Donnacha was born in 1985 and Diarmuid came along nine years later. Both lads have represented Kilkenny in various grades over the years.
Donnacha was on his father's panel in the mid-noughties where he made three Championship appearances before being forced to retire from inter-county hurling due to an ongoing injury.
Brian is no relation to Young Hurler of the Year Eoin Cody, who is currently part of the Kilkenny team. The 22-year-old is, however, a nephew of ten-time All-Ireland winner Henry Shefflin.
Relationship with wife Elsie
Brian regularly turns to Elsie for support and advice.
"I don't seek counsel from very many people. I suppose the only person I would have spoken about it to would be my wife Elsie," he told Ryan Tubridy on The Late Late Show.
Brian doesn't bring his work home though.
Elsie said: "He generally leaves it on the pitch. The kind of household we have is that it is talked about alright, but he mostly leaves it behind him."
Elsie divides her loyalties between her home county of Wexford and her adopted county of Kilkenny.
She said: "I would be loyal to Wexford but with the lads' involvement and Brian's involvement in playing club and county for Kilkenny I would find it hard to shout against them."
Health issues and heart surgery
Brian Cody took a break from his GAA duties to undergo a pre-planned heart operation in April 2013.
"Kilkenny Senior Hurling Manager Brian Cody underwent pre-planned cardiac surgery today and is currently recovering in hospital," a statement from the Kilkenny County Board read.
"He is in good form but has to take a break from team affairs for a number of weeks. In his absence Martin Fogarty and Michael Dempsey will be taking charge of the Senior Hurling Panel.
"The Co. Board asks that Brian and his family be afforded privacy for the duration of his recovery and will not be issuing any further statements.”
Day Job
Cody was a primary school teacher in Kilkenny. He became principal of St Patricks De La Salle school in the city in 2012.
In 2015, he left the job and retired from his school duties.
Success as a manager
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship (11): 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015
Leinster Senior Hurling Championship (18): 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020, 2021, 2022
National Hurling League (10): 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2021
Walsh Cup (7): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2014, 2017
Oireachtas Tournament: (1) 1999
Playing years with Kilkenny
As a player, Brian won three All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships in 1975, 1982 and 1983. He won four Leinster Senior Hurling Championships medals and two National Hurling Leagues.
He also picked up two All-Stars in 1975 and 1982.
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