The long-expected news was confirmed on Tuesday night, as Stephen Kenny's departure from the role of Ireland senior manager was formalised by the FAI.
Kenny's reign brought mixed results throughout but, ultimately, a dire qualifying campaign for EURO 2024 and failure to secure a play-off through last year's Nations League made the FAI's decision for them.
While many will now turn attention to who will take Kenny's place (make what you will of Steve Bruce's 'come and get me' plea), reflection on the Kenny era will be equally important if the national team is to return to competing for tournament qualification.
21 November 2023; Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny after the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and New Zealand at Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile
One facet of the ex-Dundalk man's management which has earned him praise was his trust in youth, with over 20 players given their senior debut over the past three years, and Kenny was undoubtedly a popular figure among the playing squad.
Another hotly debated element of the Stephen Kenny era will undoubtedly be his insistence on playing a high-pressing and attacking style of play - one which was a marked step away from those who came before.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport this week, ex-Ireland international Stephen Kelly suggested that that playing style had been somewhat naive, and that Kenny's successor would have to learn from those missteps.
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Kelly pinpoints what the next Ireland manager needs to do differently to Stephen Kenny
Former Ireland international Stephen Kelly told RTÉ this week that he believes Ireland are in a worse footballing position now than they were when Stephen Kenny took over as senior manager.
While praising Kenny's commitment to his role, Kelly would nonetheless say that the departing manager's approach had cost Ireland in several games, and that his successor would have to strike a balance between style and sensibility:
We are in a worse off position than what we were when he took over football-wise, but there is no doubt about his commitment and energy. He went into it wholeheartedly, but it hasn’t worked.
You can overplay at times. Stephen when he first came in, there were a lot of games when we were getting pressure put on us and we were conceding possession in our own half.
It seemed very risky and we went slightly away from that, even though it was a possession-based game.
There has to be a happy medium between both.
One would hope that we will not have to return to the days of low blocks and route one football, but the fear will be that the results of the Stephen Kenny era will see the FAI play it safe with the next managerial appointment.
The favourites for the job as it stands seem to be one of Neil Lennon, Roy Keane, or Lee Carsley - a mixed bag, for sure.
