As we enter the final days of the search for the next Republic of Ireland manager, it remains unclear as to who will actually get the job.
FAI Director of Football Marc Canham suggested last month that a deal was all but done to appoint the new head coach, although an announcement would be delayed until early April due to 'contractual obligations'. Many felt that suggested that the next Ireland manager was currently in employment with another international side and would be involved in the March window.
Lee Carsley seemed like the obvious candidate, although he has since ruled himself out of the running. Greece's Gus Poyet and Georgia's Willy Sagnol are two other names have been mentioned, with those two actually facing off in a Euro 2024 play-off next week. Both of those coaches are rumoured to be leaving their posts this month regardless of the outcome of that fixture.
While we wait for conformation on the identity of the next manager, another name has now entered the fray.
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Swedish coach linked to Ireland manager role
Janne Andersson is not a name that has been frequently mentioned in the the search for the next Ireland manager, although comments made by the Swede this week have raised some eyebrows.
Andersson is a former manager of Sweden, taking charge of his home nation in 2016. He went on to lead them to a World Cup quarter-final in 2018 and a last-16 berth at Euro 2020. They would miss out on the 2022 World Cup after losing a play-off to Poland, before the 61-year old left his post in November after a failure to qualify for Euro 2024.
He has been out of work since then, having turned down the opportunity to manage Latvia.
As reported by the Irish Examiner, comments made by Andersson this week could well put him in the frame for the Ireland job.
Speaking to aftonbladet.se, he suggested that it would be announced that he was about to step into a new international job as early as next week.
I have received some concrete requests. Latvia was concrete and I was hungry but it was a little too early.
If it's the right thing, it can happen, but I also feel that I've become picky.
I've had the job I'd most like to have in the whole world, so if I'm going to do something else, it must be the right thing.
We'll see what happens but I have something going on.
If everything falls into place, it will probably be ready next week. A federation job.
The timing of that appointment is certainly intriguing, with the new Ireland manager set to be revealed in early April.
It was said that the FAI were keen to appoint a head coach with previous international experience, a criteria that Janne Andersson clearly fits. His track record of success in major tournament would also appeal to potential suitors, even if his last two qualification campaigns have been unsuccessful.
Of course, Ireland are unlikely to be the only nation on the hunt for a new manager. As mentioned above, it seems both Greece and Georgia will be in the market for a new coach at the end of the month.
There are no concrete reports linking him with Ireland at this stage, although that could be said of essentially every other candidate for the role.
All is set to be revealed over the next couple of weeks.
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