FAI confirm Stephen Kenny’s exit as Ireland manager
The FAI has confirmed that Stephen Kenny will not be offered a contract extension as Republic of Ireland manager, following a disappointing Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Ireland’s only points in qualifying came courtesy of home and away wins over minnows Gibraltar.
Kenny’s final game in charge saw Ireland draw 1-1 with New Zealand in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday.
The decision on Kenny’s departure came after a meeting this evening and a presentation to the FAI board by CEO Jonathan Hill and director of football Marc Canham.
Hill thanked Kenny and his backroom team, saying: “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.”
FAI president Gerry McAnaney added: “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.”
The former Longford Town, Bohemians, Derry City, Dunfermline, Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk boss was appointed Republic of Ireland Under-21 manager on 25 November 2018 – the same day Mick McCarthy returned for a second spell in charge of the senior side.
In an unusual move, the FAI confirmed at that time that Kenny would succeed McCarthy in the summer of 2020.
However, the Covid-19 pandemic intervened and Kenny officially took over in April of that year, with his first game in charge a a 1–1 draw against Bulgaria in the UEFA Nations League in September 2020.
A month later, Ireland lost 4-2 to Slovakia in a penalty shootout in their Euro 2020 play-off semi-final in Bratislava.
That was as close as Ireland ultimately came to qualifying for a major tournament under the Dubliner, who gained plaudits for blooding young talent and the brand of football he attempted to play, while falling well short on the results front.
Ireland recorded 11 wins, 12 draws and 17 defeats in 40 matches under Kenny, with those victories coming against Andorra, Azerbaijan, Qatar, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Scotland, Armenia, Malta, Latvia and Gibraltar (twice).
Former Ireland international Lee Carsley is thought to top the FAI’s wishlist to become the new manager, with Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, Robbie Keane, Steve Bruce, Rafa Benitez, Damien Duff, Chris Hughton and Gus Poyet all touted as potential replacements.
