The news that Heimir Hallgrimsson has been appointed as the new Ireland manager has been met with a largely mixed reaction.
Some people are fairly satisfied with the appointment, feeling that a manager with impressive international experience with Iceland and Jamaica is a good fit for where this Irish team are currently at. On the other hand, some are a bit underwhelmed by the move for a coach that they may not be familiar with and who was never really mentioned as a candidate during the long process to find Stephen Kenny's successor.
Of course, only time will tell as to whether the appointment was the correct one.
Hallgrimsson's track record with Iceland was hugely impressive, leading that nation to berths at Euro 2016 and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He also had some excellent results with Jamaica, even if his tenure did finish with three defeats at this summer's Copa America.
It will be hoped that he can raise the performance levels of Ireland after a few down years, with some pundits being confident that this will be the case.
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Didi Hamann Spoke Sense After Criticism Of Ireland Manager Move
Didi Hamann was among Stephen Kenny's most vocal critics during his time as Ireland manager, believing that the team had performed to nowhere near an acceptable level during his tenure.
Speaking on RTÉ, he said that Heimir Hallgrimsson's track record and comments about going 'back to basics' after taking the job give him confidence that he will get Ireland back on track.
"Beggars can't be choosers," Kevin Doyle says of Heimir Hallgrimsson appointment to the Ireland job, but Didi Hamann regards the post as one still coveted and is confident the former Iceland and Jamaica manager can deliver success. pic.twitter.com/TVUTsodwnp
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) July 10, 2024
It’s not a name we are familiar with, but when I look at that Iceland team and what they did in 2016, what do you associate them with?
Organisation, discipline…you have got to play to your strengths. Maybe people expected or wanted a more flash name, but at the end of the day, he’s here now and we have got to give him a chance...
With the World Cup being in America and Mexico, and the hosts qualified automatically, it gives them a very good chance to qualify for the World Cup. He has given that up to come here.
I’ve said it time and time again, you’d be surprised when you tell people the Irish job is up for grabs, you’d be surprised how many people would apply for it.
You might be right that Ireland hasn’t been great the last two or three years, but it’s still a great football nation and people want to come here.
He’s possibly given up the World Cup because he feels he can go to the World Cup with Ireland.
What he said, I liked it a lot. It filled me with confidence, back to basics.
The teams that excited us at the Euros, Switzerland, Austria, Albania, Slovakia and Slovenia, they are no bigger nations than Ireland. What did they do? They work hard, stick together and earn the right to play football.
He said he wants to go back to basics. The approach of Kenny is scrapped, and rightly so. What I heard filled me with confidence. I think he will alright, I think he will be successful here.
Heimir Hallgrimsson will have a baptism of fire as Ireland manager, with his first game in charge coming against England in September. Finland and Greece will also be part of that UEFA Nations League group, meaning that survival in League B would likely be an acceptable start to his tenure.
With the Icelandic boss having reportedly only been given a 17-month contract, he will not have much time to impress if he is to remain in the job in the long-term.
SEE ALSO: Heimir Hallgrímsson Comments Lead To Questions About FAI's Ireland Manager Search
