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Brogan retired from inter-county football after 13 years playing for Dublin.
True Blue

Alan Brogan: 'I made the decision to retire and you have to stand by that decision'

The former Dublin forward feels the team needs to win on Sunday to be considered one of the all-time great teams.

FORMER DUBLIN FORWARD Alan Brogan insists he has no regrets about retiring from inter-county football last year, after 13 years in the blue jersey.

“Nothing will ever replace playing out there, but I made the decision to retire and you have to stand by that decision,” the 34-year-old said in an AIG promotional video ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland final.

“I’m sure over the course of the next few days leading into an All-Ireland final, and the ball is thrown in on Sunday, I wish I was out there. But unfortunately it doesn’t work like that. I think I’ve managed to manage it okay.”

“Once you retire, once you finish playing, you’re on the outside looking in then, that’s they way it has to be.”

Brogan, who won the Footballer of the Year award in 2011, as well as three All Stars, will be back in the stands in Croke Park cheering on the team and his brother, Bernard on Sunday.

“Before I started playing I never missed a Dublin match, I don’t see that being any different now that I’m retired and back as a supporter again.”

“I think I miss being around the lads, the craic in the dressing room. I may miss them more than the actual football, to be honest.”

The St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh clubman, who won two All-Ireland titles, knows what it takes to win on the biggest stage, and feels Jim Gavin’s side must win on Sunday if they are to be considered one of the great Dublin teams.

“For me it was the best feeling in the world winning in 2011, and 2013 I was on the bench, and in 2015 I manged to get the last score for Dublin after coming on as a sub.

“I’ll never forget when the final (whistle) went in 2011, it was an amazing feeling.

“I think they certainly need to win on Sunday to be seen in that light (of one of the best-ever Dublin teams).”

“You can be sure there’ll be no talk of that in the Dublin dressing room. That’s for the fans and the media to talk about.

“They are certainly getting close, but they need to win on Sunday to be seen in the same breath as the team from the seventies.”

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