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Staunton pays price for Euro failure

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So what appeared to be an open secret has finally been confirmed and Steve Staunton has left his post as Republic of Ireland manager by mutual consent following an emergency meeting of the Football Association of Ireland on Tuesday.


The FAI managed to give the Dublin media the slip for much of the day as Staunton's final hours in the job were played out in a series of meetings before the inevitable word of his departure came through just before midnight.

The former Liverpool defender has had the appearance of a 'dead man walking' since the Euro 2008 qualifying draw with Cyprus and, in truth, for many months before that match.

Staunton had initially insisted he would stay in the job after last week's game and, with much of his contract with the FAI still to run, some would say why not?

But the pressure had been building on the Republic boss after a series of poor performances and a European qualifying campaign that never really got off the ground so many pundits felt that his departure was inevitable - and so it proved to be the case.

Staunton was something of a shock choice to take over from Brian Kerr in January 2006, given his limited managerial and coaching experience.

The surprise at his elevation from Walsall assistant coach to international manager was tempered by the appointment of Sir Bobby Robson in the role of consultant and adviser.

It was hoped that Robson's wealth of experience would compliment Staunton's enthusiasm and stature as the Republic's most-capped player but, in the end, it seems to have proved too big a gap to bridge for the former Aston Villa star.

Robson's role as a guiding hand was greatly limited by failing health, although it has been announced that he will stay on as International Football Consultant following the departure of Staunton.

Staunton did begin his reign with much goodwill from the Irish public but a morale-sapping 4-0 friendly defeat by Holland in August 2006 set the tone for things to come.

A month later the Republic boss was ordered from the touchline in a qualifier against Germany and a humiliating 5-2 away defeat by Cyprus soon followed.

Even greater embarrassment was avoided when an injury-time winner led to Staunton's charges beating San Marino 2-1 in February and, although Staunton rode that storm, the writing was already on the wall.

The national boss received the public backing of the FAI but the media and supporters were becoming highly critical of his tactics and were questioning some dubious team selections.

His handling of the media was also less than convincing and often displayed an apparent unawareness of the team's obvious shortcomings.

Staunton earned some breathing space with a 4-0 friendly win over Denmark in August but the sceptics resurfaced when a draw with Slovakia and a defeat by the Czech Republic ended any realistic hopes of qualification.

A draw with Germany was followed by a last-gasp point against Cyprus but another poor display led to FAI chief executive John Delaney declining to offer a vote of confidence.

The Republic are now ranked 32nd in the world, compared to 15th only a few years ago, and, although Staunton may not have had the same quality of player available as previous managers, the general feeling is that he should have done better with the talent at his disposal.

Under-21 manager Don Givens will take charge of the team for the final Euro 2008 qualifier against Wales in Cardiff on November 17 although David O'Leary leads the betting for the job.







But what do you think? Should Staunton's contract have been terminated? Should those who appointed him at the FAI bear some responsibility? And who should replace him as international boss?

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comment by Dreamathighvolume (U10163219)

posted Oct 26, 2007

Fabio Capello. Is a winner wherever he goes. Got kicked out of Real Madrid after winning the league because he didn't have a glamorous enough style - which would suit us down to the ground. And he is at the age where international management just might suit him better thatn club management.

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comment by jopabemu (U5435243)

posted Oct 26, 2007

O'Leary would be my man.
he was doing well at Leeds before he was given loads of money and he got leeds 3rd and champions league semi-finals. He got Aston Villa to 6th place and I think he has the passion for the job. Coppell, martin o'neill, roy keane and paul Jewell would also make brilliant managers but that's unlikely.
I don't want this former Japanese and South African coach Troussier(or what ever his name is). it's got another berti vogts character written all over. it's not about experience. it's about good experience. so what he's managed to teams in the world cup. south africa didn't get past the group stages. japan were hosting it so he didn't have to go through the qualifying process. south korea got to the semi-final and japan didn't get past the second round yet they were hosting the competition. what an embarrassment to host something but get knocked out in the 2nd round.
please not troussier. please pick o'leary.

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comment by jopabemu (U5435243)

posted Oct 27, 2007

We do have the players. But we need someone who is going to motivate them. Look at Scotland. How many Scottish players would get into the Irish team? We can make Croke Park a fortress- all we need is the manager. When everyone is fit this is what the irish team can look like:
Given-GK
Finnan-RB
Dunne-CB
Mcshane-CB
O'Shea-LB
Mcgeady-RW
Steven Reid-CM
Stephen Ireland-CM
Duff-LW
Doyle-CF
Keane-CF

It isn't a bad team at all. Fair enough it isn't as good as England's 1st choice X1 but is still good enough to qualify for major tournaments. We just need the right manager and I believe it is O'Leary

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comment by joxterGoesToStuggart (U10191541)

posted Oct 28, 2007

in response to apachean's comment about irish players not being of sufficiant quality i will use one of arsene wenger's retorts "Everyone thinks they have the prettiest wife at home." People must remember that Ireland has a very small popularion 4million, or put another way half the population of London. The Irish team have been consistently in the top five of the smaller nations (less than 5m) for the last 20 years. Staunton was hopeless. He didn't understand the basics of football management and the players knowing this had little faith in him. Ireland actually have some good players. With players like Keane, Dunne, Finnan, Ireland, Doyle, Given, O'Shea, McShane, Duff, Long, Hunt we should be performing much better. The players we have at present are better than the team that played in 2002 wc. They just don't look good because the mgt is a shambles. smiley

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comment by EMacAonghusa (U8429532)

posted Oct 28, 2007

@apachean
"stan did the best with what little he had and ... that was little indeed"

Look what Sanchez did with NI.
It's the managers job to get the best out of the players he has and Stan literally got nothing out of them. He was an abject failure.

The players we have now are certainly good enough, if they play as well as they can as a team, to beat the likes of Slovakia, the czechs, cyprus etc etc and to qualify for any major tournament.

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comment by goodisacovfan (U10203228)

posted Oct 30, 2007

this team could beat england! the english team are way too over rated!! it actually makes me annoyed to live in england they all get payed to much for something they love and dont do well!!!!!!!
i love ireland i would like to see O'Leary take charge!

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comment by reznikt (U10217536)

posted Oct 30, 2007

apacheon first of all its the f.a.i over our team and secondly your comment on our team is a disgrace. shay given?robbie keane?steve finnan?kevin doyle?steven reid?richard dunne?are you telling me their clubs think they are useless??i feel you dont understand what you are talking about,we will come good again..in the meantime rock on scotland!

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comment by crutch11 (U10226197)

posted Oct 31, 2007

All this talk about staunton bringing young players through! That's not what he was in charge for. He was put in charge to get results. He should have been appointed as an FAI scout to the senior team if that's what his claim to fame is going to be. For those guys in the FAI that are only realizing now that it would be a good idea to have a panel of football experts to pick the next Ireland manager is a JOKE! Im disgusted and tired of the FAI screwing everyhting up. They are a mickey mouse organization and now I know why Roy Keane did what he did. We as Irish people have been paying the FAI to watch games etc. and its high time they pay the piper and pay the going wages of a top Maanger. Im not going to waste my hard earned money on buying a ticket to watch a match run by a bunch of circus clowns. Pre-requisites for the next Ireland Manager 1. should have managed a team in the world cup. 2. Should have a successful track record. 3. Should know the passion Irish Supporters have about their country! PS I think Jack done this!

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comment by jopabemu (U5435243)

posted Nov 3, 2007

I presume you mean Jack Charlton. When he got the job he hadn't managed a team in the World Cup. YOu need to give them the chance first. Don't look at Troussier and think, oh- he's managed in the world cup so he must be good.

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comment by grittyballbag (U10337285)

posted Nov 10, 2007

When Brian Kerr was sacked I thought there would be a riot! He almost got us to the World Cup after McCarthy had all but ruined our chances.
Keano blames the players for not qualifying. I blame the FAI for appointing a man with very little experience, with brief help from a "world class" manager. It was implied that there would be a coaching duo but like many politicians: percieved promises were soon revoked!
Brian Kerr may have got us to Euro 2008. I think the team would have been inspired by him, just as the youth teams were.
I think the question should not be who should manage the Irish team but who should run the FAI?
steam

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