FAI president pays tribute to McCarthy

Football Association of Ireland president Milo Corcoran has paid tribute to Mick McCarthy after confirming the Yorkshireman had quit as Republic manager.

McCarthy resigned today after coming under increasing pressure following the infamous bust-up with Roy Keane prior to the World Cup and two straight defeats at the start of Ireland’s Euro 2004 qualifying campaign.

The FAI are due to publicly announce McCarthy’s decision at a press conference later tonight but issued a statement this evening confirming the former Millwall boss quit “in the best interests of the Irish team”.

But Corcoran insisted McCarthy’s six and a half year reign should be remembered for the “excellent results” he achieved rather than the row with Keane.

He said: “Mick McCarthy’s tenure as manager of the Irish team should be judged on the excellent results achieved during his period as manager.

“He has taken the Irish team to 14th in the world and his results over a period of almost seven years speak volumes for his abilities as a manager.

“He deserves enormous credit for the success he achieved with the team since 1996 culminating in our success in reaching the last 16 of the World Cup finals of 2002.”