Heimir Hallgrimsson dangles succession concept to lure John O'Shea back into Ireland fold
FAN FAVOURITE: Republic of Ireland manager Heimir HallgrĂmsson with participants during a visit to a FAI football camp at Verona FC in Blanchardstown, Dublin. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Heimir Hallgrimsson will pitch his own journey to senior international boss as his selling point in Monday’s talks with John O’Shea.
The Ireland centurion is mulling over an invite from the new senior boss to remain on as his assistant for the competitive series starting against England on September 7.
While the Icelander tabled the offer virtually when they held a Zoom call last Wednesday – the day on which the FAI’s eight-month search finally concluded – today in Waterford is the first opportunity for the pair to meet face-to-face.
Hallgrimsson acknowledges the difficulty in O’Shea reverting to No 2 having filled the role temporarily in this year’s four friendlies and declaring his interest in the permanent post.
What he will stress to the former Manchester United defender is a potential succession plan.
Hallgrimsson’s contract runs for the upcoming Nations League campaign and a daunting quest to reach the 2026 World Cup through next year’s qualifiers.
The FAI may be embarking on another recruitment drive in 17 months and the newcomer believes a second spell learning from an international mentor should place O’Shea in the driving seat to take over.
“If he wants to meet, John is probably considering it,” said Hallgrimsson about the prospects of O’Shea accepting his offer. “I think it's more positive than negative.
"My way into national team coaching was exactly that way and I think the assistant coach should be the one that carries the knowledge to the next cycle.
“They (the FAI) have obviously shown that they believe he is going to be, or is good enough to be the coach. So I think it's a no-brainer, whatever happens back to me.
“I always say the same thing, I want to leave the shirt in a better place when I go.
“To have a guy that has been doing the things with us is probably always the best one to take over. That’s if you want continuity, growth and development.
“It makes sense to me but it's always difficult to have been the head coach and then stepping down to be assistant coach. It requires a good character to do that.”
The 57-year-old has stayed in Ireland since last Wednesday when arriving with his wife Iris, attending Shelbourne’s Europa League first leg on Thursday before the domestic meeting of Bohemians and Sligo Rovers the following night.
On Monday morning, he was at the home of Dublin grassroots club Verona to take in one of the FAI’s summer soccer schools.
His trip to Munster entails him meeting with O’Shea in his native Waterford before travelling on to Cork for the Women’s Euro qualifier against France at Pairc UĂ ChaoĂmh.
"We're just trying to look at the country, looking at where we want to live, looking at sites,” he said about a house-hunting exercise angling towards Malahide in north Co Dublin.
“We have been doing that for the last two days and then looking at the Euros final.
“I’m trying to familiarise with people in the FAI office, trying to gather our heads around where we are, who we should talk to, who can help us etc. It has been really enjoyable.”
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