Kenny’s facet completed fourth of their Euro 2024 qualifying group, profitable simply two of eight matches, and after Tuesday’s 1-1 pleasant draw with New Zealand the Soccer Affiliation of Eire made the swift announcement it will not be extending his keep.
The 52-year-old’s three-and-a-half-year reign introduced large change, however crucially not sufficient wins, and whereas opinions will differ on his legacy he firmly believes the squad he has reshaped – Kenny has handed aggressive debuts to 26 gamers throughout his time in cost – will serve his successor nicely.
“Hear, I believe it’s a really thrilling squad. I believe it’s an amazing job now, it’s a fully nice job now with the expertise, however expertise with expertise – they usually’ll get higher between now and the Nations League,” he stated, talking earlier than the information was introduced.
“It’s not till subsequent September now, however they’ll have far more membership expertise underneath their belt as nicely and I believe in the event you picked your greatest squad there with everybody match, there’s quite a lot of expertise in it and I believe it’s an excellent job now, that’s the way in which I really feel.”
Kenny has had little selection however to blood a brand new technology of attacking gamers, specifically with David McGoldrick’s retirement in November 2020, prompting him to show to Adam Idah, Michael Obafemi and Chiedozie Ogbene and later the blossoming expertise of Evan Ferguson and Celtic winger Mikey Johnston.
Nonetheless, whereas there have been creditable performances and close to misses – Portugal wanted a last-gasp double to disclaim Eire a well-known World Cup qualifier victory in Faro in September 2021 – a return of simply six wins in 29 aggressive matches represents a damning statistic.
Those that questioned Kenny’s appointment within the first place cite that as vindication for his or her reservations, whereas even those that have supported him have finally needed to concede that, no matter good he has accomplished, it has not been rewarded with the wins, attracts and factors he wanted to maintain his job.
Requested if he would have accomplished something in another way, he stated: “Hear, I’ve no regrets, however did I get all the pieces proper? No, I didn’t, in fact I didn’t.
“What I needed to do within the first interval, I don’t suppose anybody would have been capable of take care of it, it was so tough. However that’s the way in which it’s.
“Hear, it’s been a large, huge privilege and I’ve understood that day by day.
I’ve no regrets, however did I get all the pieces proper? No, I did not, in fact I did not.
Departing Reublic supervisor Stephen Kelly
“Sure, there’s been quite a lot of criticism, however pay attention, now’s not the time. It’s a small neighborhood, the Irish soccer neighborhood and it may be fairly political and that’s the disappointing facet.”
The FAI stated “now could be the best time for change” forward of pleasant matches happening in March and June 2024 and the recruitment course of for a brand new head coach begins instantly.
“Over the interval of his tenure, Stephen and his workers have labored tirelessly to create the best atmosphere to help the event of our senior males’s crew, and we’re vastly grateful for that appreciable contribution,” stated FAI chief government Jonathan Hill.
“Stephen has additionally overseen an vital interval of transition for our senior males’s nationwide crew and has given debuts to a big variety of new and youthful gamers and it will function a stable platform for whoever now takes this group of gamers ahead.”
