Domenech was considered as possible successor to McCarthy

RAYMOND DOMENECH was a strong contender to succeed Mick McCarthy as Ireland national team manager in 2002 but failed to make the shortlist, it emerged yesterday.

In a dramatic development that adds spice to the World Cup play-off at Croke Park and Stade de France, former FAI head-hunter Bryan Hamilton confirmed to the Irish Examiner that he met the current French boss in a Paris airport as part of the search-and-selection process that led to the appointment of Brian Kerr in January 2003.

“Raymond Domenech impressed me as a very serious football man who had vast experience dealing with different personalities as manager of the French underage set-up,” Hamilton recalled.

“I know the French academy at Clairefontaine very well and I spoke to people there about him. Everyone said he was a good coach who paid great attention to planning.”

Hamilton revealed that he divided candidates into four categories. “Domenech was considered under the heading of ‘Federation Experience and Youth Development’, and it was obvious from the emergence of players like Nicolas Anelka and Thierry Henry that he had done a very good job,” the former Northern Ireland manager explained.

“But within this category I didn’t think that Brian Kerr was in any way inferior, so Brian’s name went forward to the FAI Selection Committee.

“A second category was ‘Managers with International Experience’ and from this group I shortlisted Philippe Troussier. He had done well with Morocco and Japan and he came across very well, with a twinkle in his eye and a good sense of humour. He was less serious than Raymond Domenech. Maybe Raymond would have been too serious for the Irish people!

“I also spoke to managers in the category ‘Club Experience’. Bryan Robson, who had also been part of the England coaching set-up, had a slight advantage over Peter Reid, so Bryan was short-listed.

“The fourth category was ‘Irish Experience’, which brought in Kevin Moran, John Aldridge and Frank Stapleton.

“The FAI made the final choice in favour of Brian Kerr. I found the whole experience very enjoyable overall. Whatever people may say about the outcome, I thought the FAI approach and the process they adopted was very good, very professional.”

News of Domenech’s interest in the Ireland job seven years ago will give a new dimension to events at Croke Park. Had he been appointed, Domenech would have succeeded one of his former players, McCarthy, whom he signed for Lyon in 1989.