Megan Campbell says Colin Bell’s successor must be an external appointment, otherwise it's a 'cop out'.
And if the FAI select from within, Campbell warned: “There’ll be a lot of unhappy people in camp.”
Bell quit as Ireland women’s boss last month to become assistant at Championship side Huddersfield Town.
The FAI will interview candidates this week and U19s boss Dave Connell is already linked with the vacancy.
But Manchester City defender Campbell wants an external appointment, claiming that is the only way the women’s team will thrive.
“If it goes internal again it’s a regression for women’s football,” she said yesterday. “What we’re after fighting for over the last three years will all be forgotten about.
“With Euro 2021 and the hype around the women’s World Cup, it shows how far women’s football has come.
“This is the time to take Irish women’s football to the first major finals, so it needs to be external.
“Someone who has played the game, who understands national and club set-ups. Not from within the FAI that’s worked throughout the set-ups before.
“For too long, we’ve just accepted. It’s an easy cop-out, or way out, to just give the job internal. It needs to be taken seriously.”
And Campbell continued: “We want to qualify for a finals tournament. We want to see women's football thrive and grow in Ireland.
“From the World Cup, you saw the nations that have done that consistently in the last number of years.
“You look at England, how well their league is thriving. You look at our league. For us to continue to push we need to have the best of the best in charge.”
Before landing the Ireland job, Bell steered Frankfurt to the Women’s Champions League title and also worked with Jurgen Klopp at Mainz for five years.
There was a mixed reaction to Bell’s departure but Campbell was a fan despite just two appearances because of injury.
He was also Ireland U17s boss and Campbell said: “The difference in players - technically and tactically - from the kids’ side was incredible.
“Colin worked with the likes of Klopp and you can see the experience and knowledge he brought into training sessions and matches.
“We need someone who has experience with club or country - playing and coaching - who will ask for things that will put people in uncomfortable positions.
“That will get the results that are needed. Hopefully the new board of the FAI…will help us get the answers we need.”
Megan Campbell and Richard Dunne helped launch the FAI’s Festival of Football which takes place around Co Meath this week.
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