Emma Byrne and Colin Healy join interim boss Eileen Gleeson's staff for Ireland's UEFA Nations League ties

Byrne won 11 league titles and the Champions League with Arsenal while amassing 134 caps for her country. Credit: Laszlo Geczo (ETPhotos)

Ireland centurion Emma Byrne and former Cork City boss Colin Healy have joined interim manager Eileen Gleeson’s backroom team for the upcoming UEFA Nations League ties.

The Girls in Green face Northern Ireland in the first-ever women’s international at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, September 23rd.

And they travel to Budapest to face Hungary three days later as former assistant manager Gleeson takes the reins following the decision not to renew Vera Pauw’s contract.

Gleeson led Peamount United to a league and FAI Cup double in 2010 before guiding the West Dublin side to the inaugural Women’s National League crown in 2012.

She had a three-year spell in charge of UCD Waves and most recently took charge of Glasgow City in the Scottish Premiership before resigning to focus on her FAI high performance role.

And the Dub will be assisted by former Arsenal and Brighton goalkeeper Byrne, who amassed a record 134 caps for Ireland, and 13-times-capped Healy.

Leixlip native Byrne, 44, won 11 English league titles and one Champions League, in 2007, before retiring at the end of the 2016-17 season before working in the Arsenal academy.

43-year-old Healy had spells at Celtic, Sunderland and Ipswich Town and two separate spells with hometown club Cork City before retiring in 2017.

He returned as manager of the Rebel Army in 2020 and helped them to the First Division title in 2022, only to step down in May of this year following a disappointing start to the season.

Also joining the temporary staff will be FAI national coach educator Richie Fitzgibbon, who holds a UEFA A Goalkeeping license and has worked extensively with underage international sides.



They may have to do without Liverpool pair Niamh Fahey and Leanne Kiernan as the former suffered a recurrence of a calf injury that threatened her World Cup participation and Kiernan continues her return from a knee complaint.

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