Practicality in FAI minds for new boss

Standing by Voltaire’s deathbed, a priest recited the last rites. The dying author-cum-philosopher, regarded as one of the defining figures of the French Enlightenment period, was then asked to renounce Satan before eventually passing away peacefully.

As a noted deist of his time, he had spent much of his life as a stringent critic of the Catholic Church. And as death was knocking at his door, he wasn't about to desert the sharp wit at the tip of tongue for which he had become known.

He was also one of the most renowned critical thinkers in Europe throughout the 18th century, and was thus responsible for penning a remarkable collection of literature during his life. But perhaps his greatest words were those that were reportedly his last.

"Now, now my good man,” he said in response to the priest's request. “This is no time to be making enemies."

After parting ways with Stephen Kenny, the FAI is back at the drawing board. And Like Voltaire, they may in time realise that they need to make a deal with the devil. Indeed, they may have no choice in the matter. Hiring a defensive-minded manager as Stephen Kenny's successor, it's becoming increasingly apparent, may be the only option on the table when that time comes.

Following a torrid Euro 2024 qualification campaign that produced a meagre six points, collected in two wins over Gibraltar, Kenny's side slunk to 60th place in the world rankings. It marked a bleak end to a tenure that begin with a sense of genuine promise, a feeling that Irish football could transform into an entertaining spectacle and away from the sides that every other country hated to play. The Republic of Ireland, it was widely felt among the fanbase, needed a new identity. For once, the country had a manager who agreed.

There were natural concerns over Kenny's lack of experience, with many unconvinced by how his League of Ireland credentials would stand up in the international arena. But he had, to an extent, helped assuage those concerns by taking over the U21 side and putting a style in place that was based on possession and attack. And with some success.

Alas, after replacing Mick McCarthy as senior manager in 2020, following the returning manager's failure to qualify for Euro 2020, the honeymoon with the Dubliner quickly turned sour. In hindsight, the writing was written faintly on the wall from early in his tenure. The Dubliner should, of course, be commended for his bravery in attempting to change the Irish defensive philosophy that had been favoured by most of his predecessors. And it's only natural that many fans will want to see the next appointment take a similar approach as Irish football attempts to rise from the rubble of a slew of controversies, a lack of shrewd investment and tepid performances on the pitch.

But given Ireland's seeding for future major tournaments hasn't been helped by a dismal qualification campaign for next year's European Championships, there won't be a long queue of high calibre candidates lining up outside the FAI's door.

Of those that have been linked with the vacant role, all bar former Irish international Lee Carsley provide cause for excitement for those hoping to see the Republic of Ireland refraining from a return to conservative philosophies of the past.

It, yet, remains to be seen if the England U21 manager is interested in the role. At the moment, he’s working within one of the most exciting youth development networks in the world, and should Gareth Southgate step away as England manager over the next couple of years Carsley would surely be a shoo-in to become his successor. At last summer's U21 European Championships, he guided England to their first title since 1984, working with a star-studded squad that could hold its own with most international senior sides. Most of that squad are within Premier League set-ups and look set to become established players within the league over the next season of two. Many of them like Curtis Jones, Cole Palmer and Anthony Gordon already are.

Meanwhile, the Republic of Ireland are already pinning their future hopes on 19-year-old Evan Ferguson, while struggling to build a team of solely top tier talent around him. And though World Cup qualification has been made easier with the quadrennial tournament expanding to include 48 teams, the Irish hopes of qualifying for major tournaments have taken a pummeling over the last few years. Only unfettered passion for the green jersey would drag Carsley away from his current role, and even then he must carefully consider the impact such a move could have on his career.

In the Irish role, Carsley will need to take more than a couple of scalps if his side is to qualify for the World Cup in 2026. He would need to execute a revival of Lazarus proportions, and even that may not be enough to qualify. He'll be expected to be flawless in his actions in front of microphones, as well as on the sideline, and he'll be expected to have an opinion of every cause celebre that pockmarks Irish football. And there will be many. It's a far cry from the comfort of working with some of the most talented youngsters in world football, with relatively little spotlight while garnering an impressive reputation.

Outside of Carsley, exciting options are scarce - particularly for those who are welded to the idea that Ireland needs to continue adopting a possession-based game. The truth is the foundations probably aren't in place just yet to venture further down that avenue. There's an argument to be made that the FAI will first need to create a system with more effective pathways for youth development. That may lead to the talent that can finally fulfil the vision Kenny had for the Irish side.

In the meantime, the FAI will know they need to arrest the descent down the world rankings. And that will require an experienced manager.

Unless a new name comes out of nowhere in the coming months, that person will likely want to bring the Irish side away from Kenny's vision. Beggars can't be choosers. And at the moment, the Republic of Ireland has its hat in its hand.