CHELSEA FIRST-TEAM coach Anthony Barry has been appointed to Stephen Kenny’s Republic of Ireland coaching staff, as a replacement for Damien Duff.
Duff walked away at the start of the year, and the FAI have today named Barry as his replacement. Barry will continue working with Chelsea, and will link up with Ireland ahead of next month’s World Cup qualifiers.
“I’m delighted to join the Republic of Ireland coaching staff ahead of the start of the Fifa 2022 World Cup campaign,” said Barry.
“The opportunity to work in international football is something I’m thoroughly looking forward to and I’m looking forward to working with manager Stephen Kenny, his staff and the squad. I’d also like to thank Chelsea for helping facilitate this opportunity.”
Born in Liverpool, Barry had a lengthy playing career in the English Football League with clubs including Fleetwood, Accrington and Yeovil Town before moving into coaching at Accrington. He then worked with former Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook at Wigan Athletic, and from there earned a move to Chelsea, where Frank Lampard appointed him as first-team coach, having got to know him on a Uefa Pro Licence coaching course.
The 34-year-old was retained on the staff by Thomas Tuchel following Lampard’s dismissal. Barry was approached as a potential replacement for Joey Barton as Fleetwood Town manager at the start of the year, though turned it down in favour of the opportunity to work with Tuchel.
Barry played with Irish analyst Ruaidhrí Higgins when both were in the youth set up at Coventry City, and Higgins, having tracked Barry’s progress as a coach, recommended him to Stephen Kenny back in their Dundalk days. He has since remained on Kenny’s radar, and was among those identified as a potential replacement for Duff.
Barry is highly rated at Chelsea, and he took training in the days between Lampard’s dismissal and Tuchel’s arrival. Under Tuchel, his responsibility includes organising Chelsea at set pieces – both defensively and offensively – and he is seen as the primary go-between in relations between Tuchel and the Chelsea players.
“I’d like to welcome Anthony to the Republic of Ireland team, he is an innovative coach with an energetic style and is someone I have been aware of for a few years now,” said Stephen 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.”
Originally published at 16.45
Something about positive from the FAI for a change.
He has been absolutely brilliant since arriving at the club. We are much improved defensively because of him alone. Turned down the chance to manage Fleetwood a month ago to learn under Tuchel. Hopefully, he has a similar impact for Ireland.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: who’s we?
@Tosh Moher: Ah you’re one of those fans. I say “we” as in Chelsea. Or am I not allowed to say that? I watch every game, I get to say “we”. I hope that’s ok with you Tosh.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: transformed our set pieces. Duffy will thrive
@Hugh: if only he could defend
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: a Flaming sword likes football….they’ll be raging on ailesbury road
@Danger: rugby, football, golf, GAA, you name it, I’ll watch it
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: darts, horse racing….
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: of course your allowed say that Noel, I just find it a contradiction that you as a Republic of lrl supporter would be also be a supporter of Chelsea FC a club and supporters that have a history of racism, and an owner of dubious wealth, and also a club with strong links to the British Army, not a “we” many Irish people would want to be.
@#JUSTICE4NOEL: that is grand and all but I have met few English supporters of their native home town football clubs like Man U, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal in Australia over 18 yrs and they all seem to have a less then favourable opinion of Irish people supporting their club, spending their hard earned cash on supporting their local club in Manchester, Leeds or London etc. Irish support for their club is about as relevant as a supporter from Hong Kong. I was actually quite surprised tbh.
@Patrick Lawlor: Why were you surprised? We’re not British, we have our own league. Irish fans filling out the Aviva for Liverpool v League of Ireland XI is no different to Hong Kongers filling out Hong Kong stadium for Liverpool v Kitchee FC. I think a lot of Irish fans like to think it is different for them. They deserve some special status as supporters of English football clubs. ‘Real fans’ etc etc For whatever reason, a lot of PL fans hate the idea of football tourists. It is okay for them to have a squad packed full of players from all over the world, but international fans are not welcome. Morons. Irish fans might as well be tourists too. But, as I said, they like to think they deserve some special status with English clubs.
An appointment based on merit and not a jobs-for-the-boys scheme. It’s a start.
Now that’s a good appointment. A glimmer of hope.
Great appointment..under the radar.. no leaks..hopefully like our defense..
Kenny has really freshened things up with Barry and Dean Kiely on board. Hopefully the way forward, need to improve quickly after a dreadful start. Good luck to them all.
Great news..under the radar appointment..
Boys we’re winning the World Cup
Hopefully will start the end of a parochial finish to International Irish football, go Stephen Kenny,
Did anyone get the date for the stoning of JD.. these bag of boulders I have are raring to flung… nothing like a good Saturday morning stoning, Stephen’s green would suffice as the venue, John only loved hanging around the green.
No chance they could have given Robbie Keane a gig. Considering he is being paid still anyway!