Race to replace Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager blown wide open after top boss shuts down job move
THE race to be named Ireland’s new senior mens' team manager has been thrown wide open again.
Speculation had been rife that top candidate Anthony Barry was interested in succeeding Stephen Kenny in the dugout next year.
But the top coach was categorically ruled out of the role this week by Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel, who said the Scouser was a non-runner.
He told reporters the story was “not true, we can forget about it” when the subject was raised at a pre-match press conference.
Barry, 37, is well-regarded within the FAI for his year working as a coach under Kenny which he combined with his full-time job at Chelsea under Tuchel in 2021.
But Tuchel said: “Canard, canard, canard. No topic, we can forget about that.”
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As rumours abound as to who is actually interested in the job - which comes with an estimated salary of half a million euros a year - we take a look at who could succeed Kenny.
ROY KEANE
THE controversial Corkman is seen by many as a nuclear option for the Ireland job given his history with FAI officials.
Keano is regularly linked with the top role having previously served as national team skipper and later as an assistant to Martin O’Neill.
But the outspoken Sky Sports pundit - who last managed Ipswich in 2011 - isn’t without his fair share of critics.
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Although Roy steered Sunderland to promotion in his debut season, and subsequently kept them up, his tenure with the Tractor Boys raised questions over his temperament.
It will be interesting to see if Roy - who has frequently spoken of his desire to return to management - will be among the candidates.
LEE CARSLEY
EX-Everton midfielder features highly on the bookies’ list at the time of writing, due to his heroics across the seas.
Carsley led the England U21s to their first European Championship win since 1984, beating Spain in the final.
The FAI might be tempted to turn to the 49-year-old to nurture some of their emerging talent on the big stage.
But it is not known if they would face a hefty bill by poaching him from his UK employers.
SAM ALLARDYCE
BIG Sam has made his interest in the Ireland job known on a number of occasions.
The former Bolton boss recently let it be known he’d be keen to succeed Kenny, having previously managed .
He told Second Captains: “Nobody has officially made any offer, in terms of whatever shortlist may have been brought up. Obviously, that is all done through my agent, which is the way things go today.
“I’ve always been pragmatic in terms of how good are the players and we will suit a system or style for those players and play to their strengths... and try and cover their weaknesses when all is said and done.
“I play winning football, that’s what I play.”
STEVE BRUCE
THE much-maligned Premier League-winning skipper feels the Republic of Ireland job “would suit me” as he considers a return to management.
Bruce, 62, has been out of the game since leaving West Brom in October 2022.
The former Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa boss, though, believes the time is right to consider a return.
Bruce told Ladbrokes' Fanzone.ie: “I’m led to believe I’m there or thereabouts in the betting for the Ireland job. It’s a job that would interest me, that’s for sure.
“Let’s see if the phone rings. It’s one of those – are they going to make an approach? At this moment in time, I really don’t know.
“But I’ve seen the betting sites and read the rumours, like everybody else.
“At the moment I can’t really comment on it because there’s been no connection.”
CHRIS HUGHTON
HUGHTON’S name features prominently at the time of writing and he has been regularly linked to the main role.
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In February of this year, Hughton was appointed Head Coach of the Ghanaian national team, and has won two of his four games in charge there, seeing them qualify for the African Cup of Nations.
A former Ireland international, he was part of Brian Kerr’s back-room team during his reign in charge of the Irish national side and might just be tempted to take the job – if offered it.
