Potential Candidates to Succeed Gleeson as Republic of Ireland Manager

The Republic of Ireland national team is seeking a new manager following the Football Association of Ireland’s [FAI] announcement on Wednesday that Eileen Gleeson would not be offered a new contract. Gleeson’s 18-game period as manager concluded after her side’s defeat to Wales in last week’s play-off second leg, which meant they missed out on qualification for next summer’s European Championships in Switzerland. Individuals such as Connell, Healy, Byrne, and Bell have all previously worked within the FAI. Gleeson initially assumed the role temporarily in August 2023, succeeding Vera Pauw, before being appointed to the permanent position in December 2023. She is, however, expected to remain employed by the FAI in an unspecified capacity. The FAI has stated that the search for Gleeson’s replacement will commence “immediately.” BBC Sport NI examines several potential candidates for the role. Dave Connell, the current Under-19 manager, was previously considered but not selected for the senior position in 2019 when Vera Pauw took over from Colin Bell. He has managed the underage team since 2011 and has guided them to the U19 Euros on two occasions. In 2014, his squad, which featured talented players such as current senior captain Katie McCabe, Courtney Brosnan, and Megan Connolly, advanced to the semi-finals. This summer, the current U19 team exited at the group stage, but notably secured a draw against Spain, who went on to win the tournament. Having 13 years of experience with the U19s, Connell has coached most of the players who have advanced to the senior squad and is positioned to nurture future talent. The former right-back served as player-manager at Limerick from 1997 to 1999 and also had a four-month stint as Galway’s manager in 2001. While his limited senior managerial experience could be a drawback, he stands a chance if the FAI prioritizes an internal appointment for continuity, particularly considering the association’s financial challenges, which might influence their selection process. Connell is anticipated to assume interim command of the senior squad for their initial Nations League matches against Turkey and Slovenia in February, should the FAI not have appointed a permanent replacement for Gleeson by that time. These matches could serve as an audition for Connell to secure the position permanently, similar to how the previous Nations League games did for Gleeson last year. Former Republic of Ireland international Colin Healy served as Gleeson’s assistant manager throughout her brief period in charge, which saw the team achieve promotion to League A of the Nations League and secure a notable victory against France. Prior to this, Healy managed League of Ireland club Cork City for three years, from 2020 to 2023, resigning in May of that year after guiding his hometown team back to the Premier Division. The 44-year-old earned 13 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland and previously assisted the men’s U19 team. Similarly, if the FAI desires continuity, they might choose to appoint Healy on an interim basis solely for the Nations League fixtures, as they did with Gleeson, before evaluating future steps based on performance, given that qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup do not commence until 2025. However, he is likely to attract considerable interest from the men’s game, considering his current availability and his prior work with Cork. Emma Byrne holds the record as the Republic of Ireland’s most-capped player, having represented her nation 134 times between 1996 and 2017, including four years as captain. The former Arsenal goalkeeper was also a member of Gleeson’s backroom staff, initially joining as an assistant coach when Gleeson was named interim manager. Subsequently, she specialized in coaching goalkeepers once Gleeson secured the permanent position. Byrne previously coached Arsenal’s academy goalkeepers while completing her coaching qualifications and also served as a coach-educator for the English FA. Similar to Connell, she lacks senior managerial experience but is a highly respected figure in women’s football in the Republic of Ireland and is immediately available. Colin Bell previously managed the Republic of Ireland for two years, from 2017 to 2019, amidst a varied coaching career. During his tenure, the Republic of Ireland achieved a notable 0-0 draw against the then-European champions, Netherlands. He appointed McCabe as captain at 21 years old and led the team to a third-place finish, behind Norway and the Netherlands, in their 2019 World Cup qualification group. The Englishman departed the team to become assistant manager at Huddersfield Town and has since held managerial roles in South Korea, Scotland, and China. As a Champions League-winning coach with Frankfurt, he was appointed South Korea’s first foreign coach in 2019 and guided them to the Women’s World Cup last year. He is currently the manager of China’s U20 team, following a two-game stint as Aberdeen boss. He has previously cited the FAI’s financial challenges as a reason for his move to Huddersfield, a factor that could complicate efforts to persuade him to return to the role. Considering the Republic of Ireland men’s prolonged search for Stephen Kenny’s successor, it appears the FAI will likely take their time before naming Gleeson’s replacement, particularly since, after failing to qualify for the Euros, only Nations League matches are scheduled for 2025.