“Wedded is not strong enough a word. It’s an imperative.”
Stephen Kenny has laid out his vision for how the Republic of Ireland team would play if he was to become the new manager. The Dundalk coach has also said he is “absolutely qualified” to be the next Ireland boss.
The national team are searching for Martin O’Neill’s replacement after the Derryman left his post on Wednesday.
Mick McCarthy, who managed Ireland between 1996 and 2002, is said to be the front-runner in the race.
Mick McCarthy will reportedly be offered Ireland job with Robbie Keane as his assistant https://t.co/MIeorxBlBf
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 23, 2018
McCarthy will fly into Dublin over the weekend for talks over the vacant position. However, Kenny is reportedly still in contention and he is also set to meet with the association.
The Dundalk manager should merely bring along a copy of Friday’s Irish Times and show them his interview with Emmet Malone.
If you still don’t think he should be the next Ireland manager after reading it, then I don’t know what to say to you.
Stephen Kenny, not Mick McCarthy, must be the next Ireland manager | @RobRedmond10 https://t.co/HFgXQQYrym
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 21, 2018
Kenny emphatically disputed any suggestions that he wouldn’t command the respect of the Ireland players because he is a League of Ireland manager.
He correctly reminded people that many of the Irish players came through the League of Ireland. And said that respect is earned on the training ground every day.
He clearly stated his idea of play. Like his Dundalk team, Ireland under Kenny wouldn’t lump the ball away. He wants to combine the best qualities of Irish players with a modern style of football.
“Do I think that I could take charge of the next generation of Irish players and turn them into a really cohesive team; combining the best virtues of Irish sides – the honesty, work-rate and passion that we’ve shown down the years – but introducing a more European style of play, a more fluid and expansive way? Yes, I do.”
“Well, philosophy is an overused word,” he continued.
“But it’s the way I view the game and I think it’s the way a lot of players love to play the game.
“Midfield players love to be able to join in, to receive in on the half-turn, link with their front players, there must be movement off the line from wide players, full backs overlapping, connections…”
Something I wrote about Stephen Kenny and Irish football.https://t.co/A2iADIstbr
— Robert Redmond (@RobRedmond10) October 23, 2018
Most Ireland managers have adopted a so-called “pragmatic” approach to how the team plays – which usually means the team end up hoofing the ball away and get as many players behind the ball as possible.
Kenny was asked if he is “wedded” to his idea of passing, progressive football.
“Wedded is not strong enough a word,” he said.
“It’s an imperative. There is a huge desire to see really good football, to see players really showing the talent that they have, realising their potential.
“There is a determination to see a high level of skill and a team playing in a really progressive way.”
Some might say it is easy to speak like this, but Kenny has achieved great success with Dundalk with these principles.
He represents the best of Irish football and believes in the best of Irish footballers. He is the modern coach that the Ireland players have needed for quite some time.
The entire interview is essential reading for Irish football fans, you can read it here.
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