MEET STEPHEN KENNY’S NEW ASSISTANT COACH ANTHONY BARRY
THE name of the new man was being kept a closely-guarded secret but word coming through earlier this week that Stephen Kenny had secured a new coach was accompanied by soundings that the FAI were very enthused about his profile.
“A left-field appointment but a very good one,” was the verdict of one insider.
Damien Duff left big shoes to fill and there was an expectation that the announcement might initially be greeted by some questions. “Anthony Who?” was always going to be a response from sections of the Irish public to the arrival of the 34-year-old Liverpudlian in place of a household name.
But the people behind it knew this ‘left-field’ appointment would bring credibility in a different way. The catchline that he is the current first-team coach at Chelsea helps his cause in that regard.
Barry has survived the cull of the Frank Lampard-led management team that recruited him from Wigan last summer, a reflection of the status he has quickly assumed with the London giants.
When Kenny secured the services of Duff last summer, initially on a similar job share with Celtic, the manager told people who asked about the appointment that he was keen to work with a young coach operating at a high level that would be on top of trends and developments.
Barry ticks that box and it could be argued that his experience this year with Chelsea has exposed him to a level above what Duff was seeing in Scotland.
He will not be an unfamiliar face to certain members of the Irish dressing room and indeed the staff room.
As a trainee at Coventry, he spent six months with Ruaidhrí Higgins, Kenny’s trusted chief scout and opposition analyst.
In two spells as a player at Accrington Stanley, the former Everton trainee crossed paths with Darren Randolph and Seani Maguire at formative stages of their respective careers.
Energies
Barry’s playing career was only the warm-up for his main act, however, and when it ended early he threw his energies into his football education. He quickly began to turn heads, having started his badges when out of favour at Fleetwood Town back in 2013.
There’s a League of Ireland link to his ascension as it was his fellow Scouser and ex-Sligo Rovers boss Paul Cook who took a chance on Barry, then 31, when he hung up his boots. They had a long-standing connection and Cook spotted that the intellect of the budding coach could help him.
He spent three years with Cook at Wigan, during which they enjoyed a memorable FA Cup run and secured promotion from League One before financial issues and a resultant 12-point deduction sent them back down last summer despite winning plaudits for their performances under pressure.
Barry – who completed his A Licence with the IFA in Belfast – was concurrently making connections that would lead to a bigger breakthrough.
He was on the same Pro Licence course as Lampard and his assistant Jody Morris and a profile in ‘The Athletic’ last year detailed that Barry was regarded as the star pupil on that particular course.
When Lampard snared the top job at Stamford Bridge, Barry was on his radar and he made the move last summer. That same Athletic profile referenced how the eager coach had apparently concentrated on self-improvement during his Pro Licence course by delivering presentations on football and life skills at a school and a prison so he would become comfortable in the area of public speaking.
Still, it’s the quality of his work that allowed him to retain a frontline role at Chelsea in the Tuchel era. Barry, a midfielder in his playing days, is now viewed as a set-piece expert who is strong on defensive shape.
Even as Chelsea struggled under Lampard, the improvement in both their attacking and defensive setpieces was recognised and Barry has received a lot of credit for that.
Football behind closed doors allows for greater insight in to the sideline dynamics and attendees at Chelsea games have noted Barry’s animated presence when it comes to that side of the game.
It’s understood that Lampard’s exit from Chelsea was the catalyst for Irish enquiries about Barry’s status, even though it became clear he would be going nowhere and he turned down an opportunity to take over as Fleetwood manager to stay put.
There is a feeling that Chelsea are happy with Barry broadening his coaching experience with Ireland in the same way that former Blues assistant Steve Holland dabbled with the England set-up during his eight- year stint under a variety of managers.
Holland eventually left to become Gareth Southgate’s full-time No 2 with England. Barry’s Chelsea future is understood to be secure whatever happens with Tuchel although the Fleetwood link indicates that his name is doing the rounds and further managerial approaches may follow.
However, he’s expected to be in situ for the World Cup campaign and his studious approach should sit comfortably with Kenny’s method of preparation.
“He is an innovative coach with an energetic style and is someone I have been aware of for a few years now,” said Kenny.
“The skillset Anthony brings will complement the existing coaching team and I look forward to him joining up in March ahead of the World Cup qualifiers.”
Barry will just have three days to acquaint himself with the squad so he will need to make a quick impression. But with Kenny low on players active and thriving at Premier League level this term, he will at least have a new voice in his ear fresh from that environment. It’s a fascinating call.
Barry’s Chelsea future is understood to be secure whatever happens with Tuchel