McCarthy eyes an Irish return
MICK McCarthy wants the Republic of Ireland job after Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane were sacked yesterday.
Express Sport understands that while McCarthy has yet to be contacted by his former employers, he is keen to return to the hotseat.
His former striker Robbie Keane, linked with the vacant Ireland Under-21 job, could form part of the coaching ticket if McCarthy lands the gig.
Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny, who has won four League of Ireland titles in the past five years, was rivalling McCarthy as a favourite for the job with the bookies last night.
The Irish FA want a swift appointment and hope to have the new man in place before the Euro 2020 qualifying draw in Dublin on Sunday week.
With Dublin hosting four games at the finals, the FAI would be embarrassed if Ireland did not qualify.
The FAI want ‘a safe pair of hands’ at the helm, which suggests McCarthy – who is available after leaving Ipswich before the end of last season – is the frontrunner.
But former Dunfermline boss Kenny is regarded as a visionary and led Dundalk to the Europa League group stages in 2016 playing fearless, exciting football. With an important campaign ahead, his appointment would be seen by some as a risk. But his supporters would say it is one worth taking.
McCarthy, a former captain of Ireland who then managed the national team between 1996 and 2002, has turned down at least two Championship jobs since Ipswich.
In September, he was asked about one day returning to the Ireland job and he nailed his colours to the mast.
“If their [O’Neill and Keane’s] contracts come to an end in two years’ time and the job is available and I’m out of work, I’d love it again,” he said. While O’Neill and Keane were responsible for some memorable nights, they have paid the price for a dismal 2018 that yielded just one win.
Ireland never recovered from a crushing 5-1 home defeat by Denmark in the second leg of a World Cup play-off a year ago. Fans turned against them and the pair have been taking flak since. Last week Ireland were relegated to the third tier of the Nations League.
They blew second-seed status for the Euro draw and will be in the third pot, with just the top two teams qualifying from each group.
Yesterday O’Neill said it was with a heavy heart that his time with Ireland had come to an end after an FAI delegation met him on Tuesday night.
After Monday’s dour 0-0 draw in Denmark, O’Neill insisted he was still the man for the job.
In a statement yesterday, O’Neill said: “I’ve had the great honour of managing the Republic of Ireland football team for the past five years.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I leave. It was one of my lifetime ambitions to take charge of the Irish senior squad.
“I will not forget the night in Lille when we beat Italy to secure the nation’s best-ever achievement in the Euros, the terrific night we beat the world champions Germany at home in Dublin, or James McClean’s goal in that euphoric win against Wales in Cardiff that put us through to the play-offs for this year’s World Cup.”
While Keane has been a divisive presence as his assistant, O’Neill insisted he was an “inspirational figure”.