Lee Carsley, the manager of England’s Under-21 squad, has recently opened up about his previous discussions with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) regarding the possibility of him taking over as head coach after Stephen Kenny. Carsley revealed that he had an introductory discourse with the FAI in November, describing it as a casual, but enjoyable chat. However, it didn’t progress any further.
The managerial recruitment operation of FAI is managed by their CEO, Jonathan Hill, Director of Football Marc Canham, and board director Packie Bonner. It was speculated that Carsley, former Ireland and Everton midfield player was the primary candidate for them, however, he has decided to stay in his current position with the English FA. This decision comes even after a noticeable enhancement in his reputation following the victory of the England Under-21 team at the European Championships in 2023.
Carsley expressed his commitment towards his current job, acknowledging the responsibilities of his role. While there were assumptions of him moving up to a senior level post after the summer, he said that he is dedicated to the ongoing campaign after discussing it with John McDermott, FA’s technical director, and others.
Carsley sees himself more as a development coach and hasn’t considered applying for any jobs elsewhere, emphasizing his job satisfaction. He didn’t dismiss the prospect of him considering to be a team or international manager in the future, despite staying with England’s team at present.
Following the friendlies against Belgium on Saturday and Switzerland on Tuesday at Aviva Stadium, a new men’s head coach for Ireland will be introduced by Canham and Hill. This morning, Hill was present when interim Ireland manager John O’Shea spoke to the media, but refrained from discussing the newly announced Sky sponsorship deal.