‘The big ambition is to qualify for the Euro 2024.’
Stephen Kenny pinpointed qualification for Euro 2024 as the “big ambition” after he signed a new contract to remain as Republic of Ireland manager until the culmination of the European Championships campaign.
The former Dundalk boss said he has a “dream” to take Ireland to Euro 2024, which will be hosted by Germany.
Kenny said he wants to bring the national team ‘back to where it started’ with a return to Germany, which was the venue for Euro ’88, the first tournament Ireland qualified for.
Stephen Kenny on Euro 2024.
Kenny faced the media alongside FAI CEO Jonathan Hill at FAI headquarters in Abbotstown on Thursday. The Dubliner outlined his ambition for the European Championship qualifiers later this year.
The 50-year-old said he will do everything in his power to achieve the ‘dream’ of Ireland reaching a major tournament for the first time in eight years.
“The ambition is to go to Germany to qualify for the European Championships,” Kenny told reporters.
“I realise that’s the big ambition, it’s a big dream. To go back to where Ireland started in the European Championship, the first-ever one. You want to go back to Stuttgart or wherever it is. That’s the big dream for Ireland to qualify for the European Championships.
“There will be no stone left unturned in an attempt to do that. We have to try and achieve that and do everything that we can to get there with this team.”
Kenny on ambitions for Ireland.
The Ireland manager also said that Euro 2024 could be some players’ last opportunity in their career to qualify for a major championship. Senior players such as James McClean, 32, and Seamus Coleman, 33 possibly fall into this category.
“They’re all at different stages in their careers. For some players, it may the last opportunity of their career to get to a European Championship, and some have their whole careers ahead of them.
“That’s the big ambition to qualify for the European Championships.”
The Football Association of Ireland is delighted to announce an extension to Stephen Kenny’s contract as Ireland manager to the 2024 UEFA European Championship campaign
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— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 9, 2022
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