Colin Sheridan: In passing over Robbie Keane, the FAI can finally do something right

There is literally no scenario I want to see Robbie Keane as the next manager of our national soccer team.

POLITICAL FOOTBALL: Robbie Keane left his job as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager last week. Pic: INPHO/Aleksandar Djorovic

Mon, 10 Jun, 2024 - 07:10

Colin Sheridan is a writer and columnist. A former officer in the Irish Defence Forces he has extensive deployment experience as a peacekeeper with the United Nations, having lived and worked in the former Yugoslavia, West Africa, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Palestine.

In case you haven’t heard, the FAI are looking for a manager of the men's senior football team. If you’ve ever coached your son's under-10 street leagues squad, there’s a chance you’ve gotten a call. Been “sounded out”. Added to the bookmakers' long-list of potential candidates. The fact you’ve not been unveiled means that you too have rejected the offer. Congratulations, you’re in fair-to-middling company.

Lee Carsley. Anthony Barry. Sam Allardyce. Gus Poyet. Neil Lennon. Chris Coleman. Ole Gunnar Solskjær. Some chap called Anthony Hudson. The manager of your local Lidl. They’ve all - at some stage or another since Stephen Kenny’s departure in November - been attached to the vacant job. Every underwhelming rumour has ended the exact same way: in disappointment, mixed with relief. Most of the 'options' posited have been so uninspiring, the inevitable failure in their landing comes with the rather bittersweet sense of a bullet dodged.