Six candidates to replace Eileen Gleeson as Ireland manager

The Football Association of Ireland’s decision not to renew the contract of head coach Eileen Gleeson was not unexpected but the decisiveness was.

It took just eight days between Ireland’s European Championships defeat at home to Wales and confirmation that the coach would not stay on.

Given that the Irish men’s team went seven months from the sacking of Stephen Kenny to hiring Heimir Hallgrimsson, the signs are not good.

Vera Pauw was let go after bringing Ireland to a first-ever World Cup in Australia and New Zealand last year, and Gleeson was the beneficiary after Pauw was sacked in April..

She was hired on an interim basis in August 2023 before being made permanent boss in December - this is not an organisation that moves quickly.

She said outstraight she didn’t want the job before taking it. Which is why it is all the more surprising they have gotten rid of Gleeson so soon.

Interesting.

Ireland’s performance in the UEFA Nations League Group B went as expected - six wins from six against inferior teams, Hungary, Albania and the six counties.

Group A yielded a tougher challenge, with successive defeats to England, Sweden and France finalised with a surprise win over the French at Páirc Ui Chaoimh in Cork.

That left us with play-offs against Georgia and Wales to qualify for the Euros and, after unconvincing wins over Georgia, Wales deservedly beat us at the Aviva.

The decision to, twice, play three at the back against one striker was bizarre.

Leaving Megan Connolly, the one player who has the intelligence and athleticism to work between a back three and midfield, on the bench was equally daft.

Whether we like it or not, there is going to be a sea change at the back for Ireland. Centurions Niamh Fahey and Louise Quinn may not stay on for another campaign.

Change is going to happen. It has to. But who is going to lead it? Hmm.

Dave Connell

Former Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers defender Dave is a stalwart of Irish football, having managed Ireland under-17s to the quarter-finals of the 2010 World Cup.

Goalkeepers Grace Moloney and Amanda Budden, defender Jess Gleeson and midfielder Denise O’Sullivan were among a stacked Ireland squad that lost to Japan.

Four years later, a team featuring Connolly, Arsenal star Katie McCabe and triple-code player Sarah Rowe made it to the semis of the under-19 European Championships.

Connell knows the Irish players, both at home and abroad, and can call on more than a decade of experience working with the current players.

Colin Bell

No.

Laura Heffernan

Of all the candidates for the Ireland job within the country, Laura has the most diverse experience in the game.

From winning league titles with Wexford Youths to coaching kids in America, underage at Shelbourne and now senior with DLR Waves, she has it all.

She secured her UEFA Pro License through the FAI programme in July of this year as she helped Waves through a difficult year to a 10th-placed finish.

2017 was her zenith, however, as she took Youths to the WNL title with a two-point lead from Peamount United.

Ciarán Kilduff

An unlikely one as Kilduff has just taken up the mantle of Dundalk boss, the club he made history with in Europe with a winner against Maccabi Tel Aviv in Tallaght.

The Kildare man was named PFA manager of the year after leading Athlone to the WPD title in 2024, having won the FAI Cup over his former club Shelbourne in 2023.

Having played a crucial role in Shamrock Rovers breaking down doors by by becoming the first Irish side to make the Europa League groups in 2011, he repeated the trick with Dundalk in 2020.

Kilduff’s intro to management has gone smoothly with trophies in both his seasons at Athlone and his knowledge of the domestic league would be invaluable.

Collie O’Neill

Drawda man O’Neill has been manager of Shamrock Rovers for two years and has overseen the club’s move to be the first semi-professional team in Ireland.

Collie has led a star-studded team including the recently retired Steph Zambra, Ireland centurion Áine O’Gorman and up-and-coming stars Lia O’Leary and Joy Ralph.

The software engineer was previously manager of UCD men’s team and guided them to promotion from the First Division as well as the Europa League qualifiers.

O’Neill is a pragmatic manager who knows how to use flair and has the likes of Celtic’s Champions League star Liam Scales among the players to have stepped up under his vision.

Graham Kelly

Graham Kelly has just returned to his lifelong club Bray Wanderers following a spell as an assistant with St Patrick’s Athletic.

Kelly has extensive experience in the Women’s Premier Division as DLR Waves boss, during which time Waves keeper Eve Badana regained her place in the national team.

He was previously interim manager of Bray’s men’s team and took the same attractive style of football to his stint at Waves.

Kelly has been headhunted by clubs on the continent in the past and has an extensive knowledge of the women’s game as well as the men’s.

Danny Grant switches to Shamrock Rovers from Bohs https://t.co/Q9XG7RqIQXpic.twitter.com/a58awEdnlp

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) December 11, 2024