Stephen Kenny’s reign as Republic of Ireland manager comprised 29 competitive fixtures, of which only six – five of them against Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia and Gibraltar twice – have ended in victory; 52-year-old’s contract expired after New Zealand friendly
Stephen Kenny’s contract as manager of the Republic of Ireland senior men’s team will not be renewed, the Football Association of Ireland has announced.
The 52-year-old, who replaced Mick McCarthy at the helm in April 2020, was in charge for the final time during Tuesday’s 1-1 friendly draw against New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium.
His departure comes following Ireland’s poor Euro 2024 qualification campaign, where the team missed out on a spot at next year’s finals in Germany.
The Football Association of Ireland board reviewed the team’s dismal Euro 2024 qualification campaign and has opted for a new profile in the dug-out.
In a statement on the FAI website, CEO Jonathan Hill said: “Following a board meeting this evening [Wednesday], the FAI can confirm that Stephen Kenny will not continue in his role as manager of the senior men’s national team.
“Over the period of his tenure, Stephen and his staff have worked tirelessly to create the right environment to support the development of our senior men’s team, and we are hugely grateful for that considerable contribution.
“Stephen has also overseen an important period of transition for our senior men’s national team and has given debuts to a significant number of new and younger players and this will serve as a solid platform for whoever now takes this group of players forward.
“The Board and all at the FAI would like to sincerely thank Stephen and his staff for their hard work, professionalism and unwavering dedication to the team, the fans, and to Irish football. We wish Stephen every success for the future.”
Ireland’s hopes of making it to next summer’s finals in Germany were dashed long before the defeat in the Netherlands confirmed their elimination.
Their poor showing in last year’s Nations League meant even the safety net of a play-off berth eluded them.
Kenny’s reign comprised 29 competitive fixtures, of which only six – five of them against Azerbaijan, Luxembourg, Armenia and Gibraltar twice – have ended in victory.
His early months in charge, which included a penalty shoot-out defeat by Slovakia in a Euro 2020 play-off semi-final, were complicated by Covid-19 regulations which severely depleted his squad over several windows.
Kenny: No greater honour than managing your country
Speaking after the New Zealand result, Kenny insisted he had enjoyed the experience and was keen to carry on, but he was philosophical about the situation in which he found himself.
He said: “From my point of view, there’s no greater honour than to manage your country, it’s a huge privilege.
“It was an emotional dressing room with the players there. 90 per cent of the players, maybe over 95 per cent of players, their careers are on an upward trajectory and they’re only going to improve as players and as individuals.
“It’s been a privilege in that regard, the greatest honour you can have. Whatever you did in life, it would be a step down, no matter what you did, but that’s the way it is.
“We have had a lot of setbacks and I suppose that’s why I’m not getting a new contract if that’s the case. International football is ruthless, that’s the nature of it. I know that, I understood that, but that’s the way it is.”
Who are the contenders to replace Kenny?
Lee Carsley
Former Derby and Everton midfielder Carsley has enjoyed significant success as England U21s boss, guiding his side to European Championship glory last summer. Birmingham-born, he won 40 senior caps for Ireland and, at 49, has a wealth of coaching experience with Coventry, Sheffield United, Brentford, Manchester City, Birmingham and England U20s.
Chris Hughton
Current Ghana boss Hughton, who won 53 caps for Ireland as a player, has vast experience as a manager, guiding Newcastle and Brighton into the Premier League either side of spells in charge at Birmingham and Norwich. The 64-year-old was less successful in his most recent domestic role at Nottingham Forest, but has been working on the international stage since February and would tick a lot of boxes.
Sam Allardyce
Allardyce, who began his managerial career in Ireland with Limerick, has a track record reorganising and revitalising struggling teams and there is little doubt that he would make the Republic more difficult to beat as a first port of call. Now 69, he last worked at Leeds, where he was parachuted in for a brief, desperate and ultimately futile Premier League rescue mission at the end of last season.
Neil Lennon
Former Northern Ireland international Lennon has long been touted as a future Ireland manager after the success of his first spell at Celtic, during which he led the club to three successive Scottish Premiership successes, two Scottish Cup wins and the last 16 in the Champions League. However, his stock has fallen since his second incarnation at Celtic Park ended in disarray in February 2021 with the Bhoys trailing arch-rivals Rangers by 18 points.
Mick McCarthy
McCarthy’s disgruntlement at the succession plan which saw Kenny replace him ahead of a Euro 2020 play-off tie against Slovakia was only thinly disguised, and he was not alone at the time. The prospect of taking the job for a third time might prove attractive to the 64-year-old, who guided the nation to the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan, who has worked at Cardiff and Blackpool since his second international exit.
Olivia Martin is a dedicated sports journalist based in the UK. With a passion for various athletic disciplines, she covers everything from major league championships to local sports events, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis.
