- Paul Fennessy reports from the Aviva Stadium
NEW IRELAND U21 boss Stephen Kenny says there is no scenario where he would be prevented from taking on the senior role after Euro 2020.
It was confirmed on Sunday that the outgoing Dundalk manager would succeed new boss Mick McCarthy, after the latter’s two-year stint in the role ended.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, Kenny played down suggestions that McCarthy could stay on should he perform exceptionally well.
The Dubliner explained that the guarantee of the senior position had been made to him in writing, adding: “If Mick gets Ireland to the Euros, I’ll be absolutely delighted. It would be great to take over [a team] playing with confidence. It’s great for me, because it’d be a massive achievement for him to [qualify for a major tournament] again. His stock will be really high. It would be great for him and great for the country. That’s only good news.”
August 2020 has been earmarked as the date when Kenny takes over and it is a remarkable rise for a manager who began his senior coaching career at Longford in 1998 and took over a struggling Dundalk team just five years ago, going on to win four league titles in five seasons in addition to some notable successes at European level with the Lilywhites.
It was a huge wrench to leave the club. I had tremendous relationships there at all levels, we had a brilliant period, but the international team is a huge honour. It’s something that you just cannot turn down. It’s an opportunity that has to be grasped.
“It’s just a huge privilege to be named U21 international manager and be here for the next four years really and beyond, I hope.
“Of course, I was reluctant to leave that to go anywhere, particularly with the seeding situation with the Champions League. To be seeded in the first round of the Champions League and possibly the third round of the Europa League — to leave that would have to be something special, and this is something special. It doesn’t get any more special than this.”
Kenny is understood to have turned down the U21 role initially before being swayed by the prospect of succeeding McCarthy. Asked about the discussions that led to his eventual appointment, he said:
I think it’s all hypothetical. Everything was just finalised on Saturday. A week ago, I couldn’t have envisioned this, of course, but it’s an arrangement that I’m perfectly happy with. It’s a great opportunity, and one that I’ll work extremely hard to do justice.”
Kenny has already had the opportunity to meet with McCarthy and his other senior coaching staff, and the 47-year-old coach is determined to learn from his more experienced counterpart, having spoken to him for the first time in 15 years on Sunday evening.
He adds: “It gives me an opportunity to travel, see how the other international teams prepare; the tactical nuances of the different systems, really examine them at close quarters; the blocks of games close together in four or five days and explore the best practice for preparation.”
The Dubliner, however, insists that his influence on the senior set-up prior to 2020 would be minimal.
“My role is now to assist and support all of the other managers and to nurture and develop and help inspire the new generation of Irish players for the future of Irish football. And I think that’s a very exciting period for everyone.
One of the things that have been obvious in our discussions is that the vision Ruud has as regards manager and ways of playing is similar to the one of myself. It is a bit of a meeting of minds in that regard.”
Kenny added that he was leaving Dundalk “in a very strong place” and said none of the staff at the club would follow him into the U21 set-up.
The ex-Derry and Shamrock Rovers boss also said, with regard to rumours that Leeds and Ireland legend John Giles was involved in his appointment: “That’s completely news to me.”
You can watch the press conference in full here:
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It’s unfortunate, hugely so, that these appointments are just paper over the cracks that give Delaney another 4-6 years of a tenure that won’t be hugely questioned properly
Mick does well, “It was always my plan that Stephen learn from one of the Best International Mangers we’ve ever had”
Mick does poorly, “It’s a risk we had to take. Luckily I have one of the best young managers in the country lined up to take over”
No matter what happens the spin is there
@Séamus Tierney: Tesco wrote out the contract.2 for the price of 1.
Its on file.
In a filing cabinet.
@David Clarke: LOL good one
@David Clarke: it’s Bizarre!!!! If McCarthy wins the Euros (ok just go with me here) and Kenny messes up the under 21s, McCarthy just hands over to Kenny?? Kenny manages in a league that anyone who can get out does so as fast as he can. Kenny’s only stint outside was a year with Dunfermline in which they were relegated and he got sacked.
@Henry Porter: who were in administration at the time… Stop referring back to it.
@Yorkie1892: Yes, don’t mention that he flopped at a higher level.
@David Clarke: In a solicitors office.
It’ll be interesting to see if he gets 1.2m when he takes over
@Travellers Are Over-represented In Irish Jails: O’Niell was on 2M
@Travellers Are Over-represented In Irish Jails: more interesting to see what happens if Mick has an exceptional 2 years & Kenny really struggles with the u21s. Also wonder how legally binding this “written promise” of a divine right to succeed Mick actually is. Never heard of such an arrangement in professional sports. A good contracts lawyer would tear such a clause to ribbons if it was ever challenged
@Jane Aelst: Wouldn’t it be implied that performances and or results matter? Kenny has been incredibly naive here. What if in two years time the players make it known what they want , even if Mick steps aside and retires into the sun set? Kinda worried know about Kenny, rather silly statement to make . Contracts me little . If the FAI were that certain about Kenny, the Senior job would be his now
“NEW IRELAND U21 boss Stephen Kenny says there is no scenario where he would be prevented from taking on the senior role after Euro 2020.” Very foolish comment to make. The players will dictate whether Mick should stay or not. Kenny will have to also get a couple of good results or at least performances out of the Under 21 team and that will be hard since whatever U21 talent we have we tend to shoe horn them into the Senior team. A lot can happen in 2 years or so
So hypothetically he could lose every under 21 game for the next 2 years, and still be guaranteed the step up to senior manager. Sound.
@Fergus O’Connor: yup. What a complete joke of an organisation the FAI are.
Does Delaney have a qualification of note apart from inheriting the FAI gig from his father ?. Just wondering.
@WillietheKid: He wouldn’t have managed a team in a UEFA comp without having the proper qualifications/badges done…. Obviously…
Does anybody know how the FAI got away without paying Dundalk any compensation despite Stephen Kenny still having a year left on his contract with them?
@James Clancy: 250k
@G.G: It’s all someone elses money, nothing that delaney or anyone in the FAI have to worry about.How will the team be in 2020? Who knows, and it doesn’t matter as long a TV and ticket revenue is there and Delaney syphons it off, Dustin could have a “binding” contract and get on the “someone else’s money” compensation trail that the FAI leave in their wake.
@James Clancy: he’s gonna be a huge miss. I’m delighted he is getting a chance to represent his country. Hopefully we get someone who also keeps the ball on the ground in Dundalk
@G.G: So Dundalk have gotten compensation from the FAI for them taking Stephen Kenny with a year still left on his contract at Dundalk???
He’s got a massive job with the U21′s. They’re the least successful of the age grades over the last few years, and I’m not sure if the talent is there. It’ll be interesting to see how they evolve and what impact he has on the other age grades. Was it King or was it the players?. Time will tell.
@Dan Finlay: I have to disagree with talent being available – systems are there to maximise what players can offer – no more of this natural goal scorer rubbish look at any great manager/coach and how they have maximised what they have to work with. I think comparing Noel King with Stephen Kenny shows how little you know. Probably a Utd fan
@Dan Finlay: I want to add – I don’t put Mourinho into any great coach and realise that actually, that’s too broad a comment. Kenny has a good story about when he took over Derry he went and signed the best derry players available among some others – Paddy McCourt, Ruaidhrí Higgins, James McClean, Ger O’Brien etc got UEFA cup playoff qualifier 06/07 brought that club up from relegation. A great story
What happens when Delaney is forced to resign. kenny is just being used as a poster boy and clauses will always exist to get out of the contract, especially when you can spent money to get rid of O’Neil & Keane with no consequances. I mean why stop at 2 years time,assign managers for the next decade.
I’m curious about this appointment.
1. Is Kenny not ready now to take over? And if not what exactly is he going to learn at u21 level over the next 20 months to make him ready?
2. Why would the FAI publicize this deal? There are no upsides and plenty of downsides. Undermining Mick, breaking up a potentially good management team if Mick is successful etc.
A ridiculous situation.
What if we win Euro 2020?
The FAI top management layer will absorb any increase in income and grass roots football will still be the same. Delaney will built a statue of himself and announce the appointment of Jack Charlton to continue his master plan, while sending Kenny home on the train with some cans of Larger.
@Decko Kelly: stick to playing fifa
Delighted for Kenny. Bit of a weird arrangement, but hopefully it all works out.
How naive can you be?
If Kenny is not qualified in the FAI’s eyes to get the job now how in flutes name is he gonna be any better in 2 years time? What’s to say that Robbie Keane won’t be better qualified after working with the senior team for the next 2 years?