It’s looking more and more likely that Chris Coleman could be the next manager of the Republic of Ireland. The former Welsh and Sunderland manager is now the hot favourite to take over from Stephen Kenny.
The former Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny found it hard to step up to the level of International management. It should not be forgotten the massive contribution Kenny made to football on the island of Ireland.
England’s Under-21 coach Lee Carsley has long been the favoured choice, and seen as an ideal option, but the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has been unable to strike a deal with the former Ireland midfielder.
That has seen Ireland explore other options, and Coleman has emerged both from his history of success with Wales and an Irish connection through his father, who was from Dublin.
Coleman has also spoken of potentially managing the Irish team in the past.
He significantly overachieved in taking Wales to the semi-final of Euro 2016, although this was with a world-class player like Gareth Bale at his peak.
It’s been over three months since Ireland parted ways with Stephen Kenny and the longer this goes on the bigger a joke it looks and especially when it comes to soccer betting Ireland where you can get the best odds on who will be the Irish manager.
Stephen Kenny did a great job at blooding some good young Irish players and Chis Coleman might just be the right man at the right time and take advantage of Kenny’s work with the likes of Evan Ferguson and others ready to explode on the International stage.
It’s a results business as Chis Coleman knows all too well and it’s what cost Stephen Kenny his job as Ireland manager, despite the boys in green playing a lot more attractive football than any Irish team had ever played. It was the results that really weren’t good enough and it affected attendances at the Aviva Stadium.
A new day is dawning for Irish football with some young quality players coming through, Jake O’Brien, Sam Curtis, Cathal Heffernan to name but a few. Can Chris Coleman be the man to lead Ireland forward to a major tournament for the first time since 2016.
Time will tell, but I do hope for Coleman’s sake and this young group of Irish players, that the public get behind this Irish team and give them the support that they need. Come on you boys in Green.
A sound choice.
Has Roy been approached? Could be good for publicity and the finances.