EILEEN GLEESON has been axed by the FAI – just a year after he was appointed as Vera Pauw’s full-time successor as Ireland manager.
The Association announced in a statement that it had decided against offering Gleeson a new contract.
2
The former Peamount United and Glasgow City manager had made it clear she wanted to stay in the post to which she had been first appointed to on an interim basis in August 2023.
But the FAI said that, following a review, the board had opted not to extend her reign.
Ireland were beaten 2-1 at home against Wales last Tuesday to lose the Euro 2025 play-off 3-2 on aggregate.
FAI chief executive David Courell said: “On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, we acknowledge the dedication and passion that Eileen has showed in leading the Ireland Women’s National Team over the last 16 months.
“Eileen has long been a terrific ambassador for women & girls’ football in Ireland and she leaves behind a positive impact on our Women’s National Team that included an excellent UEFA Nations League campaign, a memorable win over France in Cork and a run to the Play-Offs for EURO 2025. We thank Eileen for everything that she has done.”
After a short spell in Scotland, Gleeson – who had previously served as Pauw’s assistant – returned to Ireland to take on the newly-created role of Head of Women and Girls’ Football in January 2023.
When the Dutch woman was let go following the World Cup, Gleeson stepped in on an interim basis and led Ireland to six wins out of six to win Nations League B.
She was then handed the reins on a permanent basis, despite her repeated protests that she was not interested in doing so.
Unsurprisingly, Ireland found it tougher in Euro 2025 qualifying League A, losing five straight games before defeating France 3-1 at Páirc Uí Chaoimh in July.
They finished bottom of their group but still had a route to next summer’s finals through the play-offs.
They overcame Georgia 9-0 over two legs and claimed a good 1-1 draw against Wales in Cardiff before coming unstuck at the Aviva Stadium.
Some players backed her publicly – which they had not done for Pauw – but there were some private complaints about her in-game management in the matches against Wales.
The FAI also took a dim view of an unnecessary row with Ciaran Kilduff, after the then-Athlone Town women’s manager complained of a disconnect between the domestic game and the national team.
And, in announcing her departure, there was no mention of an alternative role for Gleeson within the FAI who appointed Hannah Dingley as the new Head of Women and Girls’ Football earlier this year.