Signify in Ireland (formerly Philips Lighting Ireland), the world leader in lighting,today named Joe Schmidt, Manager of the Ireland Rugby Football Union Team, as winner of the Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2018.
In what was a stellar year for Irish sport, the judging panel – consisting of eminent representatives of Ireland’s leading sports media – had a difficult decision with regards to selecting a winner. Ultimately, the achievements of Joe Schmidt won out over the eleven other distinguished monthly winners (detailed below).
In March 2018, the Ireland Rugby Football Union team won their third Six Nations Grand Slam in the country’s history – sealed with a 24-15 win against England a Twickenham, London. This was followed in June with the team’s first series win in Australia since 1979. This outstanding year for Irish Rugby was capped with a clean sweep of Autumn International wins, including a stunning first victory(16-9) over the All Blacks on Irish soil in November.
Brendan Griffin, TD Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, and Joao Pola, CEO of Signify UK & Ireland, presented Mr. Schmidt with the 2018 award at a special luncheon in the Intercontinental Hotel Ballsbridge in Dublin today.
In attendance were the other Sports Managers who have won Monthly Awards this year, as well as representatives from Irish Sporting Bodies, the Media and Customers of Signify.
Signify became the new company name of Philips Lighting BV as of May 16, 2018. In line with this, the Sports Manager Awards will change as of 2019 to become the ‘Signify Sports Manager of the Year Awards’, as announced by UKI CEO Joao Pola today.
Philips Sports Manager of the Month Winners – 2018
| Month | Winner Name | Team | Achievement |
| Dec | Ross Glavin | Moorefield GAA | Leinster Club Football Title Winners |
| Jan | Mark Ingle | DCU Mercy Ladies Basketball | National Cup Title winners |
| Feb | Joe Schmidt | Ireland Rugby Team | Six Nations & Grand Slam Winner |
| Mar | Gordon Elliott | Horse Racing | 8 wins at Cheltenham & Grand National |
| Apr | Willie Mullins | Horse Racing | Champion Trainer for 12th Time |
| May | Leo Cullen | Leinster Rugby | European Champions & Guinness Pro 14 |
| June | Joseph O’Brien | Horse Racing | Trainer Irish Derby Winner |
| July | Graham Shaw | Ireland Women’s Hockey | World Cup Finalists |
| Aug | John Kiely | Limerick Senior Hurling Team | Winner All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship |
| Sept | Jim Gavin | Dublin Senior Football Team | Winner All Ireland Senior Football Championship |
| Oct | Stephen Kenny | Dundalk F.C | League of Ireland & FAI Cup Champions |
| Nov | Zauri Antia | Irish Boxing High Performance Unit | Women’s World Championships Gold – Kellie Harrington |
