There's another twist in the FAI's hunt for Stephen Kenny's successor as it is being reported today that they have made an approach to Anthony Barry for the role.
Barry is a renowned coach who has worked at the likes of Chelsea and Belgium. He was also part of Stephen Kenny's coaching team in 2021 before leaving that role to take up the opportunity to work with Belgium for the World Cup in 2022.
He is now currently working as a coach with Portugal under Roberto Martinez and Bayern Munich under Thomas Tuchel who he worked with during his time at Chelsea. Bayern have already announced that Tuchel is to leave the Bavarian club at the end of the season as Bayern look set to not win the Bundesliga for the first time since 2012. With Tuchel leaving it looks like Barry could be available for the FAI.
Report: FAI Make New Approach To Anthony Barry
According to a report from Daniel McDonnell and Mark Tighe of the Irish Independent today, contact has been established between the FAI and Anthony Barry's agent about the possibility of Barry taking over as Ireland manager.
FAI director of football Marc Canham had previously said that he would look to announce a new manager this month after the Women's National Team's matches against France and England, citing that "existing contractual arrangements" meant they couldn't announce anyone in March so John O'Shea took charge of the two friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland.
The Republic of Ireland Men's Team's next international window is in May where they have two more friendlies against Hungary and Portugal.
Anthony Barry is the latest name in what has been a less than ideal search for a new manager for the FAI. Reports since the start of the year have said that both Lee Carsley and Gus Poyet have supposedly turned down the role already.
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