Ruaidhri Higgins shuts door on Maccabi Haifa switch to stay at Coleraine
Coleraine manager insists he is the happiest he has been in football and remains focused on Irish Premiership glory.
Coleraine head coach and former Derry City FC manager Ruaidhri Higgins admits there was ‘definitely something in it’ amid reports linking him with the manager’s role at Israeli club Macabi Haifa.
Higgins, who previously spent three years in charge of League of Ireland Premier Division side Derry City FC, guided the Candystripes to FAI Cup glory in 2022 before taking the reins at The Showgrounds in May 2025
However, the 42-year-old insists he is happy in his current position and that a move was ‘not something that appeals to me.’
“There was definitely something in it,” admitted the Bannsiders boss.
“You know how clubs work nowadays - it's very much data driven and computerised. All I know is I was on a short list, a data driven short list, but that's as much as I can say.
“There were was no formal approach from the club; I got a call to say that they had shown a bit of interest and I was asked would I have any interest.
“It's nobody's business what my reasons are but I don't have interest in the job. It's not something that appeals to me, that's the truth.
“This is the thing, and I mean this, genuinely mean this, this is the happiest I've been in football for a long time.
“I've never been as well looked after in my career and I'm talking about from 14 years of age when I went to Coventry in England.
“I've never been as happy the way the club looks after me and the staff. Everyone who is at this club has been unbelievable to me and my staff.
“I know how hard happiness is to find in life, particularly after the past number of years. It would take a lot more than finances to make me want to move.
“I've so much to prove: I've never won a league as a manager so I've so much to do and so much to prove, more so to myself than anyone,” he added.