LONDON, England (AFP) — Former Jamaica coach Heimir Hallgrimsson was appointed the new manager of the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday.
Hallgrimsson was a surprise selection to replace John O’Shea, who has been Ireland’s caretaker manager since Stephen Kenny’s departure in November last year.
The little-known 57-year-old will make his managerial debut when Ireland face England in the Nations League in September.
“Ireland is a proud footballing nation that has always produced talented players and has enjoyed many memorable moments at major international competitions,” Hallgrimsson said.
“Our team is young and exciting with real potential and I look forward to working closely with the players, coaching and supporting them to improve their performance and results and to ensure they can play and compete in major tournaments on a regular basis.”
Hallgrimsson, who co-managed Iceland with Lars Lagerback when they eliminated England in the round of 16 at Euro 2016, has his sights set on leading Ireland to the 2026 World Cup.
“We have some important and exciting UEFA Nations League matches coming up later this year and huge FIFA World Cup qualifiers next year,” he said.
“It is my responsibility to coach, prepare and develop the team as best as possible so that we can deliver results on the pitch and make our supporters happy and proud.”
Hallgrimsson stepped down as Jamaica coach after the team’s exit from the Copa America in June.
He will be in charge of the Jamaica national team from 2022 onwards and has caught the eye of FAI director of football Mark Canham.
“Earlier this year, we identified Mr. Hamir as our top candidate whose abilities and experience met our criteria,” Canham said.
“Heimir not only brings a wealth of experience at international level with two different countries, but importantly, he also has a track record of qualifying for major international tournaments and leading teams to the top of the FIFA world rankings.”
Canham also thanked O’Shea for his work with the team.
“It was also important to us to hire a head coach who has an interest in the overall development of Irish football as outlined in the FAI’s Football Development Plan and, in particular, someone who has an interest in the development of Ireland’s junior international teams, something that Heimir is hugely passionate about,” Canham said.
“I would also like to pay tribute to John O’Shea and his staff for preparing the team perfectly for our recent international friendlies, creating a great environment for the players and guiding them to achieve good results on the pitch.”
