Racing fan O’Shea will be looking to start at a decent gallop
AKEEN racing fan, John O’Shea will be at the Cheltenham Festival on Tuesday, before revealing the declared Republic of Ireland runners on Thursday as interim manager. As soon as the white flag was raised in Abbotstown for the off, O’Shea found himself in a dazzling spotlight, like he’s never experienced before, ahead of the friendly games against Belgium and Switzerland in Aviva Stadium.
Everything he says and does will be forensically examined as being the No 1 is like riding in the Gold Cup – it’s the supreme test, with no hiding place.
The last thing O’Shea wants is to hand over the reins after Ireland have fallen at both fences.
Ideally, Ireland will not only be upright, but may actually pass the post in front against either the Belgians or the Swiss.
Should that come to pass, the odds against him becoming permanent manager would shorten, even though the FAI is adamant they have their man in place.
The identity of Stephen Kenny’s successor has been kept under wraps, which is unlike the FAI.
From early frontrunners Lee Carsley, Chris Hughton and Neil L e n non, the past week saw names like Slaven Bilic, currently in charge of Saudi club Al-Fateh, and national coaches Gus Poyet (Greece) and Willy Sagnol (Georgia), linked to the vacancy.
In between, names surfaced into the lead group such as Anthony Barry, Chris Coleman and Scott Parker.
Damien Duff (Shelbourne) and Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers), who each deserved a run at the position, were not even interviewed by the FAI.
Lennon dropped the most significant clue on Thursday when he said the FAI explained he was overlooked because of his lack of international management experience.
That appears to rule O’Shea out but it hasn’t deflected him from the challenges ahead. And if they go well, might the FAI be forced into a rethink?
After attending the Europa League knock-out draw at UEFA headquarters in Nyon on February 23, O’Shea was called the next day by Marc Canham, the FAI’s chief head-hunter. He had a fair idea what was coming.
‘I had a bit of an inkling alright, you’re just waiting for confirmation obviously. I had spoken to Marc once or twice, on what Marc was looking to identify going forward. My general thought was, “Right, I think I might have a chance for the next two games in March.”
O’Shea has been given four weeks to come up with a backroom team, a squad and to prepare, pick and oversee a team for two tough games against far stronger opponents. He accepts there is a risk involved but is adamant the benefits outweigh any negatives.
‘There is a bit of a worry, but ultimately I am getting the chance to manage my country for two important games, at home in Dublin, against Belgium and Switzerland. What an opportunity and an honour,’ he said. ‘It’s been a bit mental but brilliant too, all the organising and stuff like that. The messages and well wishes I’ve got since it was announced, it’s been crazy.’ Canham played down any perception that the O’Shea appointment is a gamble. On the contrary, the FAI’s director of football reckons the Irish centurion is on the right path towards being a No 1. ‘When people jump straight into being a head coach from playing, a high percentage of those don’t get a second job.
‘Whereas John has had numerous coaching roles in a number of different environments, so he is getting good experience of that. He has also worked with the 21s and the senior team.
‘If you match that up against other coaches who have been successful, John is doing very similar things to those people, who have a longer career as a head coach.’ O’Shea revealed that Brian Kerr, as technical advisor, will be his eye in the sky at Aviva Stadium.
‘I think Brian will be up in the stands for the games. It will be Paddy (McCarthy) and Glenn (Whelan) alongside me, with Rene Gilmartin. Depending on the communication side of things, that can be sorted.
‘He (Kerr) will be in the dressing room before the game, at half-time and after full-time. It won’t be as if he is up there and not communicating with anyone.’
At 71, Kerr is the senior figure on the O’Shea ticket. In contrast, Evan Ferguson is still only 19.
Ferguson exploded on to the Premier League in 2023 before enduring a quiet spell towards the end of the year.
O’Shea believes he’ll hit the goal trail again soon and will handle him with care on arrival in Dublin at the weekend.
‘I’ll stick him in an ice bath for five days and we’ll defrost him for Belgium,’ he joked. ‘The big thing with Evan is just to chill out. Brighton have a couple of injuries so there’ll be more focus on him starting games.
‘Every striker has a spell where they go out of form, stop scoring goals and next thing they’re after banging in four in four, five in five. That’ll be the case with Evan.
‘The type of character he is and quality he has he’ll be scoring goals again very soon.’
O’Shea watched in-form Sammie Szmodics for Blackburn Rovers on Tuesday and hopes to include the uncapped striker in his squad. What would he bring? ‘Energy and goals,’ he said.
Asked by IMOS if the dressing room needs a bit of a branding iron approach, O’Shea struck a realistic note.
‘There always should be a threat to a player’s position if they’re not performing. At club level it happens, if not performing at international level it can happen very quickly too.
‘We were close to some big results, to some big performances. If the boys can just get over the line, no bigger than Belgium at home, Switzerland at home, the confidence that they’ll get from that will be amazing. ‘When that happens for this group of players, then they’ll really kick on.’
First past the post? That’ll do
nicely.
‘IT’S BEEN A BIT MENTAL, BUT BRILLIANT TOO... IT’S BEEN CRAZY’