Letter from Stockholm: Hostile Irish environment will hold no fear for new boss Hallgrimsson

Those expecting a continuation of the Stephen Kenny era of expansive, progressive football would do well to temper their expectations – like all Icelanders, pragmatism is a pole star for Hallgrimsson

PRAGMATIST: New Ireland boss Heimir Hallgrimsson, may lack name recognition with Irish fans, he will more than make up for with dedication, organisation, pragmatism and a burning desire to win.

The announcement of Heimir Hallgrimsson as the new Ireland manager wasn’t exactly met with universal approval, but the Icelandic dentist is very much used to operating in hostile environments.

After suggesting on Twitter six years ago that the FAI should perhaps talk to him, I was in a car park near my home in Stockholm when the cryptic WhatsApp messages started coming in.