The search for a new manager for the Republic of Ireland by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is poised to continue for several more months, contrary to earlier suggestions. The hunt for Stephen Kenny’s substitute might prolong until the friendly matches against Hungary and Portugal scheduled in June.
There’s even a possibility that the new appointee could remain unavailable until after the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany, concluding on 14th July. Since the departure of former chief executive, Jonathan Hill, from the FAI, Marc Canham, director of football, has assumed full charge of the recruitment drive. Though Hill’s official exit date is April 30th, he is presently on holiday.
Canham will inform the 14-member FAI board, led by Tony Keohane, about the recruitment progress in a meeting scheduled for this Wednesday. This comes amid growing concern over the delay in finding a new manager.
John O’Shea, who took charge of the friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland last month on an interim basis, remains clueless about the matter. Even though he desires a permanent engagement, he hasn’t been notified about such a development. Despite his lack of experience as a head coach, he has openly expressed his willingness to continue either as an interim or as an assistant coach in June. He further ascertained that the ideal solution would have been for the new manager to join as soon as possible.
While Canham chose not to comment on the issue, O’Shea, aged 42, attempted to shed light on the ongoing search. However, he admitted to having insufficient information.
During a promotional event for the Europa League Final at the Aviva Stadium, O’Shea shared his experience. He said, “Marc said they were on the lookout for someone with prior experience, a credential I admittedly lack, barring the last two matches which I thoroughly savoured being a part of.”
O’Shea responded to queries about whether he would be able to serve under Chris Hughton or Gus Poyet, both of whom have been associated with the open position. “It all depends. I’m unable to provide a concrete answer as I’m unsure who will eventually be selected. Several excellent candidates have been discussed, including those I’ve previously worked with and played for. It will certainly be fascinating to see how the situation unfolds, but my current stance is to stay patient and observe.”
Despite the dismissal of the possibility of Hughton’s selection by former Ireland coach Brian Kerr earlier this year, his candidacy has seen renewed attention in the past day. Despite making O’Shea his captain during his time at Sunderland, Poyet did not reach out during his recent deliberations with the FAI.
“No, not in the slightest,” O’Shea replied when asked if he has had any interaction with the candidates. “As far as I’m aware, no contact has been made.”
When posed with the question of whether he was informed about not being the next Ireland manager, his response was a simple “No.” When queried about a potential future role with the FAI, he said, “Marc has always put forth that idea, but as I’ve always said, the nature of football is unpredictable. Depending on who comes in as the new manager, we might have a good rapport or we might not.”
Currently, O’Shea has no contract with either FAI or any club. Nonetheless, he continues to watch games in England, recently attending a League One match between Fleetwood Town and Blackpool where Irish players CJ Hamilton, Bosun Lawal, Gavin Kilkenny, and Promise Omochere played.
O’Shea humorously misheard a “need for further clarity” as “Carsley’s” input on the matter during a 14-minute interview at the FAI suite at Aviva. “Carso is satisfied coaching the England’s 21s,” he retorted in jest. “On a serious note, the responsibility of managing Ireland’s senior men’s international team is fundamentally important within Irish society. The roles’ potential influence, especially when it comes to qualifying for big tournaments and promoting a positive image of Ireland globally, is vast. I trust the decision-makers are taking their time and are committed to selecting the very best candidate for the position.”
Intrigue arose when O’Shea declined to verify if Mick McCarthy had joined the Irish team in March, despite admitting that the ex-Irish manager took up residence in the team’s hotel in Castleknock while operating as a pundit on Virgin Media. When questioned about McCarthy’s potential third term, the Waterford-born individual remained silent.
An event which sparked interest at Aviva on Tuesday evening was a simulated brawl involving pretend hooligans and the Garda Public Order Unit. This occurred at the stadium’s northern side, the location where English fans will be accommodated on their visit on the 7th of September.
For the UEFA Europa League Trophy Tour, the itinerary is as follows: The Dublin Europa Cup will take place on Friday, April 20 from 12.30 pm to 4.30 pm at the Irishtown Stadium. This will be followed by the St. Patrick’s Athletic v Waterford game, also on Friday, April 20, with photography beginning at 6.30 pm at Richmond Park. The schedule will conclude with the General Public Photo Opportunity on Saturday, April 21 from 12.30 pm to 4 pm at the ILAC Shopping Centre.