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LAST UPDATE | 22 Nov 2023
STEPHEN KENNY’S time as Republic of Ireland manager has come to an end, the FAI has announced.
A statement released this evening reads that the decision was taken not to renew Kenny’s contract following a meeting and a presentation to the FAI Board by CEO Jonathan Hill and Director of Football Marc Canham.
It follows weeks of speculation surrounding Kenny’s future on the back of a disappointing Euro 2024 qualification campaign, with last night’s international friendly draw against New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium proving the end of the road.
“Having reviewed the Euro 2024 qualification campaign in its entirety,” the Association’s statement begins, “and recognising how difficult the Group was, the results needed to realise our goal of qualification for the Tournament were not achieved.”
The statement adds that the FAI Board agree the “time is right for change” as Ireland prepare for friendly matches in March and June 2024, and the next Nations League campaign starting in September 2024.
Kenny has repeatedly come in for criticism throughout his tenure, and it was anticipated that the New Zealand game would be the Dubliner’s last time in charge of the team.
Ireland finished fourth in their Euro 2024 qualifying group after six competitive defeats in eight Group B games. This in turn means they have missed out on a play-off place.
“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,” FAI CEO Jonathan Hill said following the announcement.
“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 recruitment process for a new head coach is now underway,” the statement concludes.
The 42 understands that the future of Kenny’s coaching staff — Keith Andrews, John O’Shea, Dean Kiely and Stephen Rice — will be clarified tomorrow.
Kenny has been at the helm since 2020, replacing Mick McCarthy and has overseen plenty of changes within the squad, but only recorded six wins out of 29 competitive matches during his reign.
His contract expired following the New Zealand draw and he admitted post-match he did not expect to continue as Ireland manager.
“Of course, it would be a dream to carry on and manage the team, of course it would, but my instinct is that’s not going to happen,” Kenny said.
“That’s my own instinct and the evidence suggests that probably won’t happen, so I respect that as well.”
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Written by Sinead Farrell and posted on the42.ie
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If any group deserves improved conditions it’s nurses. Nurses work an average of 1872 hours annually compared to 735 hours for a teacher yet it’s the teachers making all the noise….baffling!
@Soccer T’s: If teaching is so easy feel free to become a teacher.
If it’s so difficult feel free to change career
@Soccer T’s: Why should I stop being a doctor because teaching is a challenging job?
Patients will die for every minute nurses go on strike.
I hope the union thinks twice before beginning a genocide of our most vulnerable.
A little hyperbolic there al…
@Al Ca: sure the government via cuts to support have done that last few years.
@FifiJamming: Are you claiming that nurses don’t save lives? That’s a little insulting.
@Al Based on your comment, if nurses go on strike for 24 hours, 1440 people will die. Damn!
@Soccer T’s: The idea that 1,440 people would need urgent hospital care out of a population of 4.5 million is hardly shocking.
They won’t need care if they are all dead but they will need undertakers. Another career option for you
Well you’d better be a good Doctor.
Do YOUR job well and stop undermining others.
You said die… yes they’ll obv have urgent care, but you did say they’d all die because of the strike. Now if your arbitrary number is on top of the norm – then yes, your statement is hyperbolic
Oh god the world is just full of ignorant people. I am surprised daily even though I shouldn’t be shocked by it anymore.
And that comment is pointed directly at Al Ca. I genuinely don’t understand someone commenting on something they clearly have no knowledge about.
I bet the nurses you work with love you Al!
Article is a it misleading – it’s a work to rule FROM Tuesday mArch 7th, with one day work stoppages (strike days) to be announced. It’s not a work to rule ON Tuesday March 7th!
Unless the INMO talks with the WRC lead to a resolution on safe staffing, recruitment and retention measures that work.
https://www.inmo.ie/Home/Index/217/12858
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