Pat Spillane paid a touching tribute to his former manager and fellow Kerry great Mick O’Dwyer yesterday.

After the news broke yesterday morning that one of Gaelic football’s greatest ever managers had passed away, the tributes quickly poured in for the 88-year-old O’Dwyer who had won 12 All-Ireland SFC titles with the Kingdom between his playing days and management.

Speaking to RTE Sport, Spillane credited O’Dwyer for giving him a football career.

" I was privileged and lucky to have been a player with Mick O'Dwyer. I was a player who was a very average ability. Mick O'Dwyer, saw something in me, saw that I had a good attitude and that I'd run through a wall. He gave me a chance, gave me the confidence, filled me full of belief, and left me off," said the eight-time All-Ireland winner. 

"I was very, lucky that I knew in the last couple of days that he was not well. Two days ago, I managed to get to see him in his hospital bed in Kenmare. We don't often get a chance to say farewell to a loved one, but I got a chance to say farewell to Micko, but in particular to thank Micko for the footballing career that he gave me.

"Without Mick O'Dwyer, I wouldn't have been a footballer. All I can say to people is that I would love if everyone in the world could meet a Mick O'Dwyer in their lifetime.

"What he instilled in you was belief. He made you feel 10 foot tall. He made you feel good in yourself and he instilled that positive belief that you took on the field and you took off the field.

"An absolute gentleman, I will miss him, and I worshiped the ground that he stood on."

"He made you feel 10 foot tall, I worshipped the ground that he stood on." Pat Spillane, who was a Kerry player under Mick O’Dwyer, pays tribute to the man he credits with giving him a football career. pic.twitter.com/aJEF9FbEXR

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) April 3, 2025

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