Now almost eight months removed from Stephen Kenny’s departure, it seems as though the FAI are no closer to appointing the next permanent Republic of Ireland manager.
The process up to this point has been a rather farcical one.
After Kenny left his role back in November, the UEFA Nations League draw in February was given as the deadline for appointing his successor. When that came and went (and John O’Shea was given the job in March on an interim basis), it was said that a deal was nearly done but could not be announced until early April due to ‘existing contractual obligations’.
Once that deal did not come to fruition, it became clear that the process had been a disaster.
John O’Shea remained in charge for this month’s games against Hungary and Portugal, although it seems as though the FAI are not convinced about giving him the gig on a permanent basis.
In fact, it is being reported that the Association are still working off a fairly lengthy list of potential candidates at this stage in the process.
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FAI have five-man shortlist in search for next Ireland manager
The Irish Times are reporting that the FAI are currently working off a five-man shortlist to appoint the next Ireland manager, with Willy Sagnol, Slaven Bilic, Chris Hughton, Anthony Hudson, and John O’Shea all still under consideration.
Sagnol is the man many suspect to be the FAI’s first choice for the job. He led Georgia to a surprise Euro 2024 play-off victory over Greece back in March, with it being suggested that this win scuppered the ‘existing contractual obligations’ deal the FAI thought they had in place. His contract with Georgia expires at the end of this summer’s tournament.
Slaven Bilic was also linked with the role previously, and having left his post in Saudi Arabia in recent weeks, he is currently available. Chris Hughton is also out of work having left Ghana earlier this year.
Anthony Hudson is a less familiar name, although it has been said that the FAI are intrigued by the American. He has previously managed Bahrain and New Zealand at international level, leading the latter to a play-off for the 2018 World Cup. He was also assistant manager for the USA at the 2022 World Cup.
While John O’Shea is also on the shortlist, you get the sense that he is very much considered as a backup option by the FAI. If there were not the case, he likely would have been offered the job already.
The next Ireland manager is likely to be in place for the team’s UEFA Nations League opener against England in early September.
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