I’M IN IT FOR GLORY, NOT
Kenny says his salary is not his main concern and that managing his country is a once in a lifetime opportunity
REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NEW MANAGER ON HIS
The new Ireland manager will earn in the region of €540,000-a-year, roughly half of what Mick Mccarthy pocketed before bonuses.
At the height of his tenure, Martin O’neill’s salary was reportedly €1.9m while Giovanni Trapattoni earned €1.7m before a 2011 pay cut saw it fall to €1.2m.
“I’ve absolutely no issue with any of that,” said Kenny. “It’s not my main motivation. It’s a huge honour to manage your country and I’m very proud.
“Only a handful of people in my lifetime have managed Ireland. You only get this opportunity once – unless you’re Mick Mccarthy. He’s unique.
“But the majority only get asked once. The way I view it, my good and bad experiences have led to absolute conviction in myself.
“I’ve no doubt in how I’ll do the job. I’ve a clear vision of what I want and I’ve planned how we’re going to get there. So I’m not concerned about the financial side.” But Kenny’s modest salary compared to those before him should not suggest that he is in any way a softer touch.
We have already seen that he and his advisors can dig their heels in when needed to negotiate the best deal.
When former FAI boss John Delaney (right) was appointing Mccarthy as O’neill’s successor, he wanted Kenny to take the under-21s job with no other conditions attached.
But Kenny felt he should succeed O’neill straight off and only accepted the 21s job on the understanding he would succeed Mccarthy after one campaign. That in itself showed a ruthless side to Kenny yet he maintains he wasn’t playing hard ball with the association – just standing his ground.
“I wasn’t playing games,” he insisted. “I was making honest decisions. I’m not a gameplayer and I wasn’t playing hard ball.
“I gave honest answers to decisions and I meant it. I have the conviction of myself in that regard.”
And Kenny revealed how that conviction he has was cemented by his highs and lows in management.
The success with Dundalk is well documented while the disappointments – primarily