Carla Ward: Everything you need to know about Republic of Ireland's new head coach

Republic of Ireland have appointed former Aston Villa manager Carla Ward as their new head coach following the nation's failure to qualify for Euro 2025.

The appointment follows a turbulent period for Ireland, after failing to qualify for this summer's Euros. A 2-1 aggregate loss to Wales in the playoff finals was enough to send a smoke signal to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), who decided against renewing the contract of former head coach Gleeson.

The former Aston Villa boss has penned a deal that will see her in charge of Ireland through until the end of the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

90min breaks down everything that you need to know about the new Ireland manager...

The Girls in Green will be hoping that this one sticks, after waving goodbye to former head coach Gleeson after just one year in charge. Gleeson took charge after the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, when former head coach Vera de Pauw was relieved of her duties.

Controversy surrounded de Pauw after her reported involvement in a misconduct scandal that occurred during her time at NWSL side Houston Dash. Partnered with a rumoured 'falling out' with Ireland captain Katie McCabe, the FAI decided against renewing de Pauw's contract upon the conclusion of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

Ireland are now set to enter a brand new era as Ward walks through the doors. The 41-year-old arrives with a plethora of experience in the women's game, as well as glowing reviews from her former players.

Where has Ward coached before?

Carla Ward managed Aston Villa for three seasons / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages

Before taking to the touchline, Ward was once a player that donned the shirt of several English clubs throughout her career. Sheffield FC where was she plied her trade for the longest, surpassing 200 appearances and 100 goals during her time as club captain.

Ward then began her coaching career at Sheffield United, where she signed on as a player-assistant manager in 2017. She was given the permanent head coach role in 2018, managing the side for two seasons before her eventual departure in 2020.

The 41-year-old then spent one season in charge of Birmingham City, where the club narrowly escaped relegation from the WSL after an 11th-place finish. Despite the low finish, Ward was named in the shortlist for WSL Manager of the Season after a turbulent campaign with the club. Players and staff filed formal complaints to the club board, claiming that the facilities provided were not allowing them to perform to the best of their ability.

It was in the summer of 2021 that Ward signed onto Aston Villa, where she remained for three seasons. The head coach engineered the Villans to a fifth-place finish in the 2022/23 season- a campaign that saw star-striker Rachel Daly take home the Golden Boot award.

It was at the end of the 2023/24 campaign that Ward announced her departure from the Birmingham club, explaining her eagerness to take a momentary step away from the chaos.

Less than one year later, and Ward is set to embark on a brand new journey with the Republic of Ireland.

Alan Mahon joins Ward's coaching staff / Charlotte Tattersall/GettyImages

The new manager will be provided with some high-quality helping hands, as former Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon signs on as the new assistant coach. Mahon joins the Ireland ranks after spending the last 10 years with Barclays Women's Super League (WSL) giants Manchester City.

Former Arsenal legend Emma Byrne will also remain the goalkeeping coach after joining the staff upon Gleeson's arrival.

Ward will make her managerial debut for Ireland when the Girls in Green face Turkey in the UEFA Women's Nations League on February 21 at Dublin's Tallaght Stadium.

The appointment was a long time coming

Carla Ward had previously expressed a desire to return to coaching / Cameron Smith/GettyImages

Upon her departure from Aston Villa in May 2024, Ward described the decision as one that was made "to prioritise the other important things - such as my daughter and the rest of my family life."

Speaking exclusively to 90min in November, Ward expressed the difficulties of balancing motherhood and full-time coaching.

"I probably didn't realise how exhausted I was from it all and trying to be a single mum, whilst doing that job was near on impossible," Ward told 90min.

After time spent at the Paris Olympic Games as a member of Emma Hayes's USWNT backroom staff, Ward described how the international set-up works brilliantly to support motherhood in coaching. "When you are in the international set-up you've almost got everything exactly like you would have every day," said Ward.

The manager told 90min that she "would love to go into international coaching", making her move to Ireland one that we ought to have seen coming. She isn't the first female coach to make the switch from club to country, with Emma Hayes, Tanya Oxtoby and Casey Stoney all making the move in the last year.

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