IT’S BACK FRIDAY
Mccarthy set to be unveiled as Ireland manager as he returns to the hot seat he filled from 1996 to 2002
MICK MCCARTHY is expected to be unveiled as the Republic of Ireland’s new manager at a press conference in Dublin tomorrow.
In England yesterday, the 59-year-old’s representatives finalised terms of a two-year contract with the option to extend for the World Cup 2022 campaign.
Mccarthy’s salary will be close to €1.2 million per year and as expected he will appoint his trusted lieutenant Terry Connor as assistant, while Ireland’s all-time record scorer Robbie Keane will also be part of the backroom staff and is due to attend tomorrow’s unveiling.
Mccarthy becomes the first manager to take charge of the Irish team twice having been at the helm between 1996 and 2002.
The FAI had promised a quick appointment and the former
Irish captain succeeds Martin O’neill who was only axed on Wednesday.
FAI chief executive John Delaney was eager to have the new boss in place for tomorrow week’s Euro 2020 qualifying draw in Dublin.
And a narrow field of just two genuine contenders, Mccarthy and the Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny materialised this week.
But with four games at the Euro 2020 finals in Dublin, the FAI were always chasing a ‘safe pair of hands’.
That suggested Kenny was up against it owing to Mccarthy’s previous experience at this level, although it was a claim the Dubliner countered yesterday.
But once talks were initiated, it was always envisaged that they would reach a swift conclusion and so it transpired.
As the deal was being struck behind the scenes in England, other outside bets for the role were busy ruling themselves out.
Hibs and ex-celtic manager Neil Lennon admitted he was flattered by the apparent interest but was not interested in giving up the day-to-day stuff yet.