Irish eyes are set on who is next in line.
Gus Poyet has made a shockingly honest admission by throwing his name into the hat to take over as the next Ireland manager, following his Greek side’s win in the Aviva on Friday night.
As Stephen Kenny’s disappointing reign as Ireland boss limps towards its inevitable end, many Irish football fans are looking at potential options to take over from the Dub, and the Uruguayan has now become a legitimate option.
Any remaining hope of Ireland qualifying from their group were left dead in the water on Friday night as Poyet’s Greece took full advantage of their chances and left with a 2-0 win.
While the pre-match press conferences between both nations were laden with controversy, it’s the former Brighton and Sunderland manager’s latest comments that will get the most attention on Irish shores.
Gus Poyet throws hat into the ring for inevitable Ireland managerial vacancy
Speaking to Bein Sports ahead of Greece’s match qualifier against the Netherlands, the 56-year-old spoke very highly of Ireland’s fans and laid out clearly his ambitions to potentially take over the reigns from Kenny.
“I tell you. the support in here. I would like to be in charge of the team here. I would love that. I would absolutely love that. I think it is a terrific place to come and play football.
“I was even surprised coming from the hotel. watching the people. I pay attention a lot. How many people have got the tracksuit? The black one. How many people have the green.
“Listen, in Uruguay we are patriots, but I don’t think many people buy the national team tracksuit. I don’t remember, maybe I am wrong. The shirt? Yes. But I don’t think many people buy the tracksuit. They are there with the tracksuit, it is proper. It is proper.”
As Kenny’s future looks well and truly sealed at this point, Poyet’s success with Greece against Ireland and the country’s impressive run in Group B, where they are now challenging the Netherlands for second place, will come as an interesting option for the upcoming vacancy.
Other options for the next Ireland boss have been thin on the ground, with the likes of Sam Allardyce and Chris Hughton being bandied about, names which will get nobody out of their seat.
England u21s coach and ex-Ireland international Lee Carsley is still in the running, however there are murmurs that he is next in line to take over from Gareth Southgate at England.
Related articles:
- Richard Dunne explains frank reality of Stephen Kenny’s time as Ireland manager
- Keith Andrews suggests “Irish staff” helped Greece beat Ireland
- Rio Ferdinand on what made former Ireland star’s mindset so different
