‘I’ve prepared a long time for this chance’
Interim boss O’Shea insists he’s ready to lead an Ireland squad in need of a jump-start
MOMENTS after John O’Shea, sporting flats and designer stubble, took his seat in Aviva Stadium, Marc Canham punctured the notion that his interim appointment with the Republic of Ireland may become more permanent.
Even if O’Shea oversees a brace of 3-0 wins over Belgium and Switzerland this month, it won’t affect the FAI’s 104-day pursuit of the new head coach.
That was made quite clear by Canham who prefaced the press conference with the statement: ‘The process of the appointment of the permanent new head coach is very close to the end, nearing the end-point, and we look forward to announcing that new permanent head coach in early April.
‘Existing contractual obligations mean we are not in a position to announce any further details on this point, but as we have committed to, we will announce that in early April.’
Later, Canham returned to the subject when asked if O’Shea might continue on the FAI coaching ticket after holding the fort for two games.
‘I won’t share specific names but absolutely John could be a key part of that moving forward. That will be partly up to the head coach and partly up to John,’ he said.
Canham couldn’t be clearer. The head coach and O’Shea, interim head coach, are not one and the same.
The FAI are closing in on their quarry and the ‘existing contractual obligations’ until ‘early April’ suggest a manager who has commitments in the upcoming international window.
It appears to rule out O’Shea, who has answered the SOS call, just as he did for Ireland through the underage levels, 118 caps, and as assistant coach under Stephen Kenny in 2023.
The Irish centurion was his usual careful self yesterday. He stayed on his feet, he didn’t dive in, and when the odd punch was thrown from the press benches, he parried it like an old salt.
In between, he threw out the odd gag to keep the mood light.
For instance, after Canham gave a directive about the style of play he was expecting from the Irish senior team, O’Shea piped up: ‘You told me, we had to play 4-4-2, Marc.’
Asked whether Alex Ferguson had been in touch since his appointment, O’Shea opened up with an insight the preserve of Old Trafford old boys.
‘I had a missed call from a “No
Caller ID” on Thursday evening and the only one who still calls me on “No Caller ID” is Sir Alex so I missed him,’ he said.
‘I’m sure he’ll get back in touch in the next few days because anytime I’ve gone in to a club or got involved with something, he’s always got in touch.’
With O’Shea in charge for just two games, it allowed Canham to call a lot of the shots. He was asked as many questions as the interim boss and regularly jumped in to offer a view or clarify a point.
Canham revealed the FAI realised just after the Nations
League draw in Paris on February 8 that they wouldn’t have a permanent manager in place while O’Shea said he was contacted a little over a week ago about coming on board.
It was Canham who had Brian Kerr’s name on his wanted list, O’Shea divulged.
‘I spoke to Marc and we were bouncing ideas around about staff, and names were coming up. When I heard Brian’s name, I was like “Yes, that sounds right to me”,’ said O’Shea.
‘I know, having spoken to him, his enthusiasm. Not only that his knowledge will be invaluable to not only the coaching staff, but the players as well. I know he will be a big boost for everyone involved.’
O’Shea confirmed he will watch games this week and will talk to all the Irish players, having delayed that until after his first media duties were over.
Everyone will get a phonecall, from long-serving Séamus Coleman to uncapped Sammie Smydozics, who is pulling up trees with his goals for Blackburn Rovers this season.
Next Thursday, O’Shea will be back in town for the squad unveiling. Thereafter, it will be about getting a tune out of a squad that needs an electric shock.
‘In terms of my personality, in terms of the camp that it is going to be, very relaxed and very enjoyable, but also a drive to win games, and perform,’ he said.
O’Shea hasn’t picked a team, or called a tactical play but he has 25 years of playing under top managers and at the highest level. He’s no rookie.
‘It’s two games but in my head, I’ve been preparing for an opportunity like this for a long time, since my late 20s, 30s that I’m going to get into the coaching side of things, management side of things.
“I’ve always got a call from Sir Alex when I start something new” “Our camp will be relaxed but with a drive to win games”
‘I would feel I’m ready, but ultimately I am fully focused on these two games, getting the squad together and preparing everyone for that. What happens after that, we’ll see.’
O’Shea was part of a backroom staff that was unable to raise a gallop from the Irish team in the Euros but he backed Stephen Kenny for giving youngsters a feel for the international stage, which will stand to the team.
‘I remember when I started playing, they said, “You won’t feel yourself in international football until about 15-20 games”. Definitely it’ll be the case for lots of the players that were blooded under Stephen.
‘It was very brave what he was trying to do. It’ll definitely be looked upon very fondly in the future,’ he said.
As for O’Shea’s future with Ireland, while he has an impressive CV, should the team stand firm against Belgium and Switzerland, he will have enhanced his prospects of a return at some point down the road.