It has been almost three months since the departure of Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager was confirmed by the FAI, yet the wait continues to go on for a replacement to be named.
Kenny's exit from the Irish job came after a disastrous EURO 2024 qualifying campaign which saw Ireland score just one goal in their games against France, the Netherlands, and Greece, and pick up just six points (from their two games against Gibraltar).
Given the nature of Ireland's qualifying campaign, Kenny's departure was expected for many weeks before it was officially announced, making the wait for a successor to be named all the more frustrating.
Lee Carsley has emerged as the favoured option among fans and pundits, with the former Ireland midfielder enjoying great success in his current role as England U21 manager.
However, his former Ireland teammate Shay Given has seemingly poured cold water on the hopes of late that the FAI are edging towards sealing the signature of Carsley.
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Shay Given believes next Ireland manager will not be Lee Carsley
Given appeared as a pundit on RTÉ's coverage of the Champions League on Tuesday night and, after Manchester City dispatched of Copenhagen with ease, he discussed the vacant Ireland managerial post.
"My understanding is it's not going to be Lee Carsley"
Shay Given believes his former team-mate won't be taking the current Republic of Ireland vacancy #COYBIG #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/ZZFryYyavz— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 13, 2024
The 134-times capped ex-Irish international revealed that his sources suggested that Carsley would not be taking the job at this time, though he could be tempted at some point in the future:
We all just want it done, I think!
My understanding is that it's not going to be Lee Carsley. Maybe not now but maybe in the future, Lee would be interested.
I don't think it's going to be Lee, personally.
So, where does that leave us? Then you're left with the likes of Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, Chris Coleman has got a mention recently, Chris Hughton. But, again, it's a few weeks until the next international, so the new manager should be in place now. He needs to look at the players and pick his squad.
Given's statement will be disappointing for Irish fans, suggesting that Carsley does not feel he is at the right point in his career to take charge of the Boys in Green.
Considering that Given played with Carsley for the Irish national team for over a decade, he would seem to be a reputable source for this topic.
24 March 2007; Republic of Ireland players, from left, captain Robbie Keane, Shay Given, Lee Carsley, and Damien Duff, stand with mascots for the National Anthem. 2008 European Championship Qualifier, Republic of Ireland v Wales, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
There have, however, been repeated conflicting reports surrounding Carsley's availability in recent weeks. Another of his former Ireland teammates, Jason McAteer, made similar remarks to Given's earlier this month, and there was a shock in late January when reports spread that Carsley was set to turn the job down.
In contrast, Given's fellow RTÉ pundit Keith Treacy said only this week that he felt the FAI were close to securing Lee Carsley as the next manager of the Ireland national team.
"They're assuring me that he wants the job"
Keith Treacy on Lee Carsley and the 🇮🇪 Ireland managerial vacancy #COYBIG #RTESoccerPodcast
📺/🎧 Full Podcast: https://t.co/fbXvPlRD2h pic.twitter.com/2LFNc5Vw6V— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) February 12, 2024
Speaking to the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, Treacy shared his belief that Carsley would end up in the job. Treacy said that he had spoken to several ex-Ireland internationals, who had supposedly revealed that Carsley was on the verge of signing a contract:
I still think Carsley will get it. I know there's been an awful lot of talk in the background. I've spoken to ex-internationals, people from Lee Carsley's generation, they're assuring me that he wants the job, that he's a very proud Irishman. He views himself as a very proud Irishman.
I still think he's going to get the job, I'm hearing they're bashing out the ins and outs of the contract right now, I know living in Ireland is a big thing for the FAI but it's probably not something that Lee Carsley would be willing to do full time.
Treacy's claims about Lee Carsley are directly contradicted by Shay Given's on Tuesday night, and we don't yet have a clear timeframe as to when the vacancy with Ireland will be filled.
With internationals against Belgium and Switzerland coming up late next month, fans will hope that an appointment is made sooner rather than later.
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