Kenny vows to change the Republic mindset as he settles into new job
REPUBLIC of Ireland manager-in-waiting Stephen Kenny has promised not to abandon his core beliefs after signing a written agreement that secures him a crack at the top job in 2020.
The ex-Dundalk boss says he wants to tackle the stereotype of Irish sides in his new role and believes it is possible to be pragmatic while encouraging teams to pass the ball.
Kenny says that he can understand ‘reservations’ about his background given that he has never worked in England — but he does not agree with them.
And the Dubliner is excited by the task that lies ahead after agreeing a new deal to become Under-21 boss before taking over from Mick McCarthy in August 2020.
Kenny was earning around €80k a year at Dundalk with liv- ing costs covered and bonuses boosting his pay — especially after their European run in 2016.
Sources have indicated that he will more than double his salary in his initial FAI role before a major pay rise kicks in from 2020 when he takes the senior post.
The finer arrangements of that deal are expected to be determined by bonus negotiations.
There may be life-changing implications for the 47-year-old, and he is excited about the prospect of altering the view of the Republic team.
It’s a topic he has spoken about passionately as Dundalk supremo.
“It’s not changing the DNA, but changing the way people think about the game,” said Kenny, who stressed that he did not mean to criticise Martin O’Neill or any previous Republic managers. He did have a good relationship with O’Neill.
“People want to come here (the Aviva), a packed stadium, and see a team really pass the ball well and really inspire them.
“Of course you have to be able to adapt, there’s no question about that. But adapt does not mean that you just surrender possession and just hope that you can hold out.”
Ahead of eventually taking over from McCarthy, Kenny has proposed the idea of spending the intervening period travelling around Europe to bolster his knowledge, while he indicated that he will not be getting in the way of the respective managers working below him. Instead, it’s all a part of communicating ideas.
“International football is different,” he said. “The detail is huge in terms of how you prepare teams for two quick-fire games in these blocks.
“I want to see how other countries do things, to compare my own ideas.
“I’ve a huge work ethic, and I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it.”