The Republic of Ireland have parted company with manager Stephen Kenny following the conclusion of their unsuccessful Euro 2024 qualification campaign.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) have confirmed that they will not be renewing the former Dundalk boss' expiring contract and are beginning the search for his successor after a tough qualifying cycle that saw them finish above only Gibraltar in Group B with just two wins from eight matches.
Minnows Gibraltar were the only team that Ireland managed to beat throughout qualifying, losing all of their other six matches combined against France, the Netherlands and Greece while claiming no draws.
Kenny's final game in charge was a 1-1 friendly draw with New Zealand at Dublin's Aviva Stadium on Tuesday night in which the long-serving James McClean made his 103rd and final senior international appearance.
There were boos at the end of that game, with Kenny admitting that he was not expecting to be offered a new deal after a final lap of honour in which he appeared to wave goodbye to fans.
“Over the period of his tenure, Stephen and his staff have worked tirelessly to create the right environment to support the development of our senior men’s team, and we are hugely grateful for that considerable contribution," said FAI CEO Jonathan Hill.
"Stephen has also overseen an important period of transition for our senior men’s national team and has given debuts to a significant number of new and younger players and this will serve as a solid platform for whoever now takes this group of players forward.”
After a long managerial career in domestic Irish football and two-year stint in charge of the Under-21s, Kenny was appointed to the senior national team job as the successor to Mick McCarthy in April 2020.
He took on the role earlier than expected after the Covid-19 pandemic caused the postponement of the Euro 2020 play-offs - where Ireland lost to Slovakia on penalties - and finals.
Kenny leaves his post with a dismal record of just six total wins from 29 competitive games at the helm.
“Obviously the board are meeting next week. They’ve a decision to make and I respect whatever that decision is," Kenny said on his future after the disappointing draw with New Zealand.
“Of course, it would be a dream to carry on and manage the team, of course it would, but my instinct is that’s not going to happen. That’s my own instinct and the evidence suggests that probably won’t happen, so I respect that as well.”
He added: "From my point of view, there’s no greater honour than to manage your country, it’s a huge privilege.
“It was an emotional dressing room with the players there. 90 per cent of the players, maybe over 95 per cent of players, their careers are on an upward trajectory and they’re only going to improve as players and as individuals.
“It’s been a privilege in that regard, the greatest honour you can have. Whatever you did in life, it would be a step down, no matter what you did, but that’s the way it is.
“We have had a lot of setbacks and I suppose that’s why I’m not getting a new contract if that’s the case. International football is ruthless, that’s the nature of it. I know that, I understood that, but that’s the way it is.
"I’ve always been a big-picture person. Rather than to build something step by step, you have to see what the picture is and what you can achieve and what can be attained and then work towards that. That’s the way I see life.
“When you do that and you set the bar high, your fall can be acute. That’s the nature of how I’ve always managed, really. It leads you to incredible highs and setbacks. That’s the nature of how I see things.”
