By BBC (Sports) | Created at 2024-12-12 13:40:49 | Updated at 2024-12-12 16:54:43
3 hours ago
The Republic of Ireland are once again on the hunt for a new manager following the news on Wednesday that Eileen Gleeson would not be offered a new contract by the Football Association of Ireland [FAI].
Gleeson's 18-game reign came to an end following defeat to Wales in last week's play-off second leg which saw her side miss out on a place at next summer's European Championships in Switzerland.
She initially took over on an interim basis in August 2023, replacing Vera Pauw before accepting the permanent position in December 2023, although she is set to continue working within the FAI in some capacity.
With the FAI saying that the search for Gleeson's successor will begin "immediately", BBC Sport NI takes a look at some of the potential candidates who could replace her.
Under-19 manager Dave Connell was previously overlooked for the senior role in 2019 when Vera Pauw replaced Colin Bell.
He has been in charge of the underage side since 2011 and has twice reached the U19 Euros.
In 2014, with a talented squad that included the likes of current senior captain Katie McCabe as well as Courtney Brosnan and Megan Connolly, they reached the semi-finals.
The current crop of U19s bowed out at the group stage this summer, but did claim a famous draw against eventual winners Spain.
With 13 years of experience with the U19s, Connell has already coached the majority of the players who have progressed into the senior squad and could help bring through the next generation.
The former right-back was player manager at Limerick between 1997-1999 and also had a four-month spell as Galway boss in 2001.
His lack of senior managerial experience may be a concern, but if the FAI want an in-house appointment for continuity purposes he will be in with a chance, especially given the financial difficulties at the association which may impact their shortlist.
Connell is expected to step up and take interim charge of the senior squad for their opening Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia in February if the FAI have not appointed a permanent successor to Gleeson before then.
Those games may act as Connell's audition to landing the job permanently, as the previous round of Nations League games did for Gleeson last year.
Former Republic of Ireland international Colin Healy served as Gleeson's assistant manager during her short tenure that included promotion to League A of the Nations League and a famous win against France.
Before that, Healy was in charge of League of Ireland side Cork City for three years between 2020 and 2023, stepping down in May of that year after leading his hometown club back to the Premier Division.
The 44-year-old won 13 senior caps for the Republic of Ireland and previously assisted the men's U19s side.
Again, if the FAI seek continuity, they could elect to appoint Healy on an interim basis just for the Nations League games as they did for Gleeson before assessing what comes next based on performances with qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup not starting until 2025.
He will have plenty of suitors in the men's game too, however, given his availability now and his previous work with Cork.
Emma Byrne is the Republic of Ireland's most-capped player having represented her country 134 times between 1996 and 2017, serving as captain for four of those years.
The former Arsenal goalkeeper also worked as part of Gleeson's backroom team, initially joining as an assistant coach when Gleeson was announced as interim manager.
She then specialised on working with the goalkeepers when Gleeson landed the job permanently.
Byrne previously worked with Arsenal's academy goalkeepers whilst doing her coaching badges as well as a coach-educator for the English FA.
Like Connell, she has no senior managerial experience but is a well-respected figure in the women's game in the Republic of Ireland and is available to start immediately.
Bell has previously spent two years as Republic of Ireland manager between 2017 and 2019 during a nomadic coaching career.
He made McCabe captain at the age of 21 and guided them to a third-place finish behind Norway and the Netherlands in their 2019 World Cup qualification group.
The Englishman left the team to become assistant manager at Huddersfield Town and has since managed in South Korea, Scotland and China.
A Champions League winning coach with Frankfurt, he became South Korea's first foreign coach in 2019 and led them to the Women's World Cup last year.
He is currently working as manager of China's U20 after a two-game spell as Aberdeen boss and previously spoke about how the FAI's financial difficulties led to his decision to move to Huddersfield, a factor which may make it difficult to entice him back to the role.
If the Republic of Ireland men's protracted managerial search to find Stephen Kenny's successor is anything to go by, the FAI will seemingly bide their time before announcing Gleeson's replacement, especially given that, following their failure to qualify for the Euros, there are only Nations League games in 2025.
