MX23RW : Thursday, January 16 13:18:30| >> :600:2579339:2579339:

Mick McCarthy backed for Republic of Ireland return as Martin O'Neill reign ends

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane had led the Republic for five years.

Mick McCarthy has been backed to return as Republic of Ireland manager after Martin O'Neill's five-year reign came to an abrupt close.

McCarthy, who has been out of work since leaving Ipswich in April, is believed to be keen on the role he relinquished after the 2002 World Cup.

And he has the support of long-time Ireland left-back Ian Harte, who believes there is nobody better equipped for the job.

Harte tweeted: "Who is the best person to become manager of Ireland? If it was me I would have Mick McCarthy all day long!!!

"Mick is proven at International level. Plus what he achieved at @Official_ITFC was remarkable as on a shoestring budget! And for me he is brilliant at motivating players."

O'Neill, assistant Roy Keane and their staff parted company with the Football Association of Ireland on Wednesday after its chief executive John Delaney had held talks with O'Neill in London on Tuesday evening.

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have left their roles
Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane have left their roles (Niall Carson/PA)

The split had looked increasingly inevitable after a poor Nations League campaign, which drew to a close with Monday night's 0-0 draw with Denmark in Aarhus, where Ireland failed to muster a single shot on target.

In a statement released on his behalf by the League Manager's Association, O'Neill said: "I have had the great honour of managing the Republic of Ireland national football team for the past five years and it is with a heavy heart that I leave this role.

"It was one of my lifetime ambitions to take charge of the Irish senior squad and I would like to thank the FAI board for giving me that opportunity."

Stephen Kenny
Dundalk's Stephen Kenny is an outside bet for the job (Niall Carson/PA)

"Knowing that the past year would be a transitional phase for the squad, I have capped 12 new players in the last nine games, with the aim that they become significant international contributors in the coming campaign."

Other names in the frame to succeed O'Neill are Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers, Hibernian counterpart Neil Lennon, Brighton's Chris Hughton and Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Press Association Sport staff');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '34d5d9d5-6c31-4b30-b799-6c117fc5a7e1');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Mick McCarthy backed for Republic of Ireland return as Martin O\u2019Neill reign ends'});

ID:342099: cacheID:342099:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7424:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Martin O'Neill in charge of the Republic of Ireland on September 6, 2018
Read Next:
O'Neill and Keane leave Ireland roles in wake of woeful Nations League campaign
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool20145148202847
2Arsenal21127241192243
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest21125430201041
4Newcastle UnitedNewcastle21115537221538
5Chelsea21107441261537
6Manchester CityMan City2110563829935
7Aston Villa2110563132-135
8Bournemouth219753225734
9Fulham217953230230
10Brentford218494037328
11Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham217592741-1426
13Tottenham HotspurSpurs21731143321124
14Crystal Palace215972328-524
15Manchester UnitedMan Utd206592328-523
16Everton203891526-1117
17Ipswich TownIpswich2037102035-1516
18Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2144133148-1716
19Leicester CityLeicester2135132346-2314
20Southampton2013161244-326


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!