O’Shea offered Irish coaching role under new boss
New Republic of Ireland manager, Heimir Hallgrimsson, has confirmed that he has been in contact with John O'Shea about taking up a role in his backroom team. Photos: Inpho.
Waterford native John O’Shea may have missed out on the main role as the new Republic of Ireland Men’s senior team manager after an interim spell in recent months after the departure of Stephen Kenny, but the FAI are still hopeful that he will accept a position to be part of the first-team going forward.
O’Shea, who was capped 118 times for his country, stepped into the managerial hotseat for four friendly International fixtures in March and June, but he was offered the job on a full-time basis after Heimir Hallgrimsson was announced as the new boss this week.
With the FAI Director of Football Marc Canham admitted that the former Iceland and Jamaica manager was the number one target for the position, his appointment comes after stepping down as the latter’s boss after Copa America.
But the attention now turns to whether or not the Ferrybank man will join the new manager as assistant coach after he had himself expressed an interest in becoming the manager after the four games in charge in recent months.
The new boss revealed that he contacted O’Shea by phone on Wednesday last asking him to remain on board as an assistant coaching role that will see Ireland attempt to qualify for the North America World Cup in 2026.
O’Shea was a guest of the Waterford and District Junior League at their Centenary awards celebrations on Saturday night last where he was presented with an unique oak carving commissioned by local man John Hayes in recognition of his ambassador role for many years in putting Waterford football on the map.
Speaking on the subject and a role for O’Shea since his appointment, Hallgrimsson said: “I’m relying on past coaches, John O’Shea and more to assist. I called him yesterday and told him I’d really love to have him as a part of this journey.
“I really think in the context of him continuing with the team, if he is on board, we will probably move fast in what we want to achieve, and the same with the staff. For me, as a foreigner, it is really helpful to have an Irish coach that knows the culture, and knows the players.
“He would be the perfect candidate in my opinion. Of course him being head coach for two camps, four games, I understand that it is tough for him to be assistant. It’s his decision. For the continuity of the national team it would be really good.
“To have an Irish coach is good; to have a good coach is the most important – I know John is a good coach and good person.”
FAI Director of Football Marc Canham added: “John and I have always had regular conversations all the way through the process since the first time we asked to be interim.
“In the last few weeks since the international games finished, we continued those conversations and explained what we were doing. We express that, from the association, that he was an important part of what we wanted to do moving forwards. And more broadly we genuinely want to develop Irish coaches.
It’s believed that O’Shea will have a short window of opportunity to make a decision to whether or not he’ll accept the offer from Hallgrimsson, who hopes to finalise his backroom team in the coming days where he doesn’t envisages many changes.
Ireland will return to action with a home game at the Aviva Stadium on September 7 when they take on EURO 2024 runners-up England before they face Greece at home three days later in the first of the games in the Nations League. They will travel away to Finland in October completing the league at Wembley against England in November.
