The long drawn out process to appoint the new Republic of Ireland manager finally concluded this afternoon, with the shock announcement that Heimir Hallgrímsson has been appointed as the new head coach of the men's national team.
The 57-year old is not someone who was heavily linked with the role during the FAI's recruitment process, where the likes of Lee Carsley, Anthony Barry, Gus Poyet, and Willy Sagnol had all been linked at various points.
The Football Association of Ireland has confirmed Heimir Hallgrímsson as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men’s National Team 🇮🇪
The former Iceland and Jamaica manager takes charge of the Ireland MNT, with his first game against England on September 7 🤩
Welcome Heimir 💚
Full… pic.twitter.com/R6VGkNHSSx— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 10, 2024
Many had assumed that interim boss John O'Shea would end up with the role on a permanent basis, with this news catching many off guard.
Considering the lack of speculation linking Heimir Hallgrímsson with the role, what do we know about the new Ireland manager?
READ HERE: Lyon Set Record Breaking Asking Price For Ireland's Jake O'Brien
Who Is Ireland's New Manager? The Breakdown On Heimir Hallgrímsson
Heimir Hallgrímsson was born in Vestmannaeyjar in the south of Iceland, playing for a number of Icelandic clubs during his own football career. He also worked as a dentist throughout this period, with his first steps into coaching coming in the women's game while he was still playing himself in the early 90s.
He spent most of his early management career with IBV, swapping between the men's and women's sides. He would eventually be appointed as assistant manager of the Iceland men's side in 2011, working under Lars Lagerbäck.
Hallgrímsson would become joint manager of the side in 2014, leading the nation to their first ever major tournament berth at Euro 2016. Here they would finish second in a group also consisting of Hungary, Portugal, and Austria.
Iceland would go on to produce one of the biggest shocks of all-time in the last-16, where they defeated England 2-1. They would go on to lose to hosts France in the quarter-finals.
Hallgrímsson would take over as the sole manager of the team in the aftermath of that tournament, going on to lead Iceland to their first ever World Cup after topping a qualifying group that also featured Croatia, Ukraine, and Turkey.
Iceland would draw with Argentina in the opening game of the tournament in Russia, before losing to Croatia and Nigeria.
Hallgrímsson resigned after the World Cup, going on to take up a role as manager of Qatari side Al-Arabi. He spent two-and-a-half years in the Gulf state.
He would be appointed as manager of Jamaica in September 2022, where he resigned following their group stage exit at the Copa America this summer.
His first game in charge of Ireland will come on September 7th, where they will face England at the Aviva Stadium in the first game of their 2024 UEFA Nations League campaign.
Here's hoping that the appointment will be a successful one.
SEE ALSO: Alan Browne Set To Seal Free Transfer To Championship Club
