At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, Mick McCarthy was unveiled as Ireland manager for the second time. In unusual circumstances, McCarthy's successor was also named.
Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny will take over from McCarthy following the Euro 2020 campaign. In the meantime, Kenny will be in charge of the Ireland U21s along with being responsible for all Irish underage men's teams.
It was also confirmed on Sunday that Terry Connor and Robbie Keane will be McCarthy's assistants.
McCarthy was never going to reject the chance to come back
"I was never going to turn down the chance to take the job. It's been mooted on a number of occasions. Every time a new manager is about to be selected, I always tend to have a few more Irish journalists in the press conference.
"My answer to that was always: 'If I'm out of work or if the job comes up, of course.'"
No option to extend his stay beyond Euro 2020
"It was explained when I took it by John and Ruud. It's two years to qualify for the European Championships.
"If you do really well and get to the final and win it, and you want me to stay, there might be a push for me to stay, there might be a job in the Premier League as well and they'll want me there.
"If we don't do well and we don't qualify, you won't want me anyway. So it kind of fits for me. It works."
He doesn't know Stephen Kenny
Asked if he knows successor Stephen Kenny, McCarthy responded: "Not very well."
That was set to change on Sunday evening. "I'm seeing him tonight actually," said McCarthy. "He's buying dinner, apparently."
The new Ireland manager was also surprised that Kenny has not left Dundalk for another opportunity prior to this one.
McCarthy has already spoken with Declan Rice's father
I spoke to Declan’s father. I had a good conversation with him.
Just clear up some things as well, some misconceptions [that] Declan wasn’t here for the games because he had a fall out with Roy or with Martin, he’s got the utmost respect for both of those guys.
But, he was asked by Gareth Southgate to go see St George’s Park. And to see whether he could be enticed to go play with them. He didn’t say he wanted to or didn’t want to. But he found it overwhelming.
I remember saying myself he should just get into the West Ham team and take a back seat and see how he’s doing. Well he’s got into that West Ham team, and he’s doing well and I’m going to go speak to him in December when his father is around and sit down and have a chat with them both.
Robbie Keane nominated himself to be an assistant
"It was suggested to me, by Robbie," said McCarthy "At first I thought, you cheeky bollocks, to be quite honest."
He also elaborated on why Keane has been brought in and what his role will be.
"He once asked me if I would consider him helping out in some way, a coaching role, management role, just to be part and work with me. I gave it some thought, and I have to say - I’m coming up 60, and TC [Terry Connor] is 56 - I kind of like the idea of a young coach, an assistant who’s got bright ideas. He’s the most capped, top goal scorer.
"I think he will have a real affinity with the younger players. All these guys coming through, he’s their hero. I think that’s a real benefit for me.
"And he’ll be driving up and down the country looking at players and having his backside in the car, getting sick of watching teams and reporting to me and TC."
The FAI has been speaking to Stephen Kenny about the U21 job for "quite a while"
John Delaney:
We would've discussed with Stephen for quite a while about taking the U21s job and managing the underage teams.
He's been an outstanding manager with Dundalk - the most successful manager in the League of Ireland over the last number of years. So the 21s job would've been something we wanted Stephen to do for quite a while and in discussions Stephen made it clear that he wants to manage the A (senior) job and he'll get that in 2020, he's happy to do so.
Ireland won't be playing 4-4-2 in McCarthy's second term
"Did you enjoy watching us at the World Cup in 2002? I guess that's the style of play," said McCarthy.
"There's real misconceptions about styles in football. I've always found winning football is generally the best. Especially with 8 or 10 games to play [next year].
"It's always going to be about winning games. If we did that and we qualified then maybe we can get players in and do different stuff but my view has always been to play an attacking game.
"I played 4-4-2 the last time. That won't be happening. I doubt that because of how football has changed. It's all about dominating the ball in midfield."
McCarthy doesn't know much about younger Irish players
"The job is still the job. I'll get the players and go and speak to them, I'll get them together, we'll work with them and do our best to win games with the best team we possibly can from the players we've got.
"If you start asking me about players and young players you're probably going to get a shock because I don't know a lot of them. I've been managing in the Championship trying to sign players for my team.
"I've been preoccupied with that for the last 16 years with Sunderland, Wolves and Ipswich so we've now got a good spell to go and find the players and see what we've got and decide what I want to do."
McCarthy won't be consulting Martin O'Neill for the time being and most definitely not Roy Keane at any point
"I might let that sit for a while," McCarthy said when asked if he'd be making a call to Martin O'Neill.
"Martin will be feeling a bit raw, so I'll leave him alone. You're probably right, I won't be speaking to Roy.
"I'm old enough and wise enough to make my own assessments. I've done it with players in the past when I've been scouting players. I ring somebody up for an opinion and maybe I haven't signed them because of that opinion when maybe I should have done - I've been put off.
"I'll be looking at the games gone past and I'll be watching our opponents as soon as I know who they are."
McCarthy on how he's changed as a manager in the last 20 years
“I’ve certainly lost some hair. Got older. Wiser, I think. I’ve a bit more perspective on life. I tend not to fall out with everybody as quickly as I did before. I realise you guys have a job to do.
“I’d like to think the experience I’ve gained since I was here the last time – won the league [Championship] twice, been in the Premier League for three or four seasons… I think I’ve learned something, that’s for sure."
Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
