FAI ready to reward Hallgrímsson with new deal

The salary Heimir Hallgrimsson joined on, €650,000, will be increased and there’s also the incentive of a seven-figure bonus for staff should they steer the team to what would be a first World Cup in 24 years.

Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had his victory speech for the game against Hungary prepared months in advance. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Heimir Hallgrímsson will be rewarded for his progress as Ireland manager with a contract extension until Euro 2028, an offer he’s amenable to accepting.

From a paltry start of one point from three games, Ireland lorded the second half of the World Cup campaign by claiming a maximum nine to pip Hungary for  the runners-up spot.

Ireland’s prize is a place in Thursday’s draw for the playoffs and they could yet be seeded with a home semi-final if a couple of results in Tuesday’s final series of qualifiers fall in their favour.

They need Bosnia-Herzegovina to avoid defeat as well as North Macedonia getting a draw or win against Wales.

Hallgrímsson was appointed in July 2024 following a prolonged eight-month search, tasked with reviving Ireland as a competitive force after four years in the wilderness.

Two specific targets were set for him by his FAI employers.

The first, to retain their status in Uefa Nations League B, was secured in March and the more important aim, a top-two finish in the pool, was delivered with a last-gasp winner in Budapest on Sunday.

It’s now expected that Hallgrímsson’s deal, officially due to expire in March, will be extended, offering stability regardless of how the playoff series unfolds.

Ireland must emerge from a semi-final on March 26 to earn a shootout with a finalist for a place at the World Cup next summer, co-hosted by USA, Canada and Mexico.

Tentative moves to discuss a second contract were parked after the September loss in Armenia.

Hallgrímsson has expressed his desire to continue but cited the upcoming challenge as reason not to yet visualise leading the team at Euro 2028, a tournament Ireland are co-hosting with the UK federations.

“If I would ask, they probably will now,” the Icelander said sarcastically when queried if the FAI had tried to tie him down immediately after the 3-2 win in Hungary.

“I will finish my contract, let's do that first. I've said from the beginning that I plan to stay here at least until after the World Cup.

“That is just in my head, it's still in my head, but I hope you (media) start to believe that as well.

“The plan was to do that talk after the Armenia camp but I said it would look bad for the FAI because I was criticised a lot at that time.

“So we just said after the campaign we'll sit down and do some talking. We focus on the playoffs for now.

“Obviously, it's going to be a really proud moment for Irish football to have games at home and be playing in the Euros, but that's a long way still to go.

“Don't lose our focus on what we're trying to do and keep on improving the team. That’s all I’m thinking about.” 

The salary he joined on, €650,000, will be increased and there’s also the incentive of a seven-figure bonus for staff should they steer the team to a first World Cup for 24 years.

Hallgrímsson revealed he had prepared months in advance his victory speech to players and address to media, so confident he was of leapfrogging Hungary.

“I had a meeting with the guys after the game and I had already prepared that speech,” he said.

“I prepared this meeting as well because I knew that we were going to do it.

“I've said to you guys (media) from the beginning, I have belief in these players.

“I know you haven't had it and you've made fun of me saying it. Hopefully now you see that you have a really good team.

“Losing in Armenia was a big dip but life is never a straight line. They've now played together a lot in a similar formation.

“They can grow even still.” 

They even took time to celebrate their feat, decamping to the famous Gibney’s pub in Malahide after their charter arrived at Dublin Airport. A cohort of the hardcore continued the partying, still in their FAI tracksuits, in Copper Face Jacks.

Amid the blistering finish to the regulation qualifiers, Hallgrímsson gained global attention for his spat with Cristiano Ronaldo.

He was blamed by the 40-year-old for ‘pressurising’ the referee before a match in which Ronaldo incurred a red card on the hour mark.

“This Ronaldo thing has just taken off,” he lamented. “The only thing I said I was unhappy with was how the referee reacted in the first game away to Portugal. It has nothing to do with him hitting our player.” 

There was plenty of bite in Ireland’s second victory, following up a 2-0 win over the fifth best team in the world by beating a Hungarian outfit ranked 37th in their own Budapest backyard.

Troy Parrott, the scorer of all five Ireland goals in the window, has catapulted himself into national hero status, pushing him ahead of the injured Evan Ferguson as the manager’s attacking lead. The AZ Alkmaar striker’s haul so far this season is 18 goals for club and country.

“It wasn’t that we played lightning football, passing football and created lots of chances,” Hallgrímsson summarised about Sunday’s last-ditch 3-2 triumph. “Our performance was based on tackles, blocks and saves. It was not chaotic, more of a possessional battle.

“Then we were effective in front of goal today.

“I don't know what Troy ate in the morning but he was flying all game and deserves this.

“Troy was the top scorer in Europe before he got his knee injury in August. Just imagine if he wouldn't have gotten injured where he would be now.

“I think he is enjoying being at AZ because they are taking really good care of him. Long may this continue but I don't think they can keep him there for long if he keeps on doing this.”