‘Kenny Goes to Stuttgart’ doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue but it’s a bold goal the Ireland manager has set down after signing a new contract to the end of the 2024 European Championships.
The FAI have opted for Moore of the same for the next two years, at least, in handing Millbrook Lawns man Stephen Kenny a new deal.
Kenny’s task over the next year is to recreate Chris-tory and navigate a path back to Ireland’s first ever major international tournament, in Germany, in 1988.
West Germany, as it was then, was the location as Jack Charlton’s Ireland reached the European Championships in ‘88.
There they beat England and drew with the Soviet Union before losing to eventual champions the Netherlands to exit the group stages.
And with rosary beads and sandwiches, to the Euros Stephen Kenny will begin his campaign with the draw for the groups set to be held in October.
The Tallaght man will have to pack his German phrasebrook, and jumpleads for Egan, as Ireland look into a potentially daunting campaign,
Some of the lads have never been away from home before - Nathan Collins’ sole cap came against Qatar in the Aviva in October.
Despite Russia facing an ‘auto ban’, former Dundalk, Bohs and Shamrock Rovers boss Kenny may feel the road to qualification is like the Long Mile Road, and there’ll be no make of Stephen Carr and van to carry the full load.
There’ll be no Forde transits, hiaces or old Bamfords from Tra-Leeds, nor will the engine room overheat from Long hauling Brady free.
Should Kenny call up former Cherry Orchard man Enda Stevens, Jack Byrne and Danny Mandroiu to his ranks, he’ll have man from Ballyfermot, Ballybough and Ballymun.
As soon as they find Stuttgart they’ll get the WAGs in to see Der Ring, Sean Maguire will get out the banjo and Keith Andrews will play the violin.
What happens next could be history, bring tears to many eyes. That day could be the highlight of many people’s lives.
Simon Coxer goes right over the top and the last time he’ll be seen is arm-in-arm with Adam Idah singing revenge for Skibbereen.
“The ambition is to go to Germany and qualify for the European Championships,” Kenny said in his Thursday press conference.
“That’s the big ambition, the big dream. To go back to where Ireland started in their first ever European Championships, if it’s back to Stuttgart or wherever it is, that’s the big dream.
“No stone will be left unturned in attempting to do that. We have to do everything we can to try and get there with this team.
“With players at different stages of their careers, some it’s maybe their last opportunity to get to a European Championships and some have their whole careers ahead of them.
“That’s the big ambition, to qualify for the European Championships.”
Kenny confirmed that coach Anthony Barry departed to join Roberto Martinez’s staff at the Belgium national team as a means of advancing his career by working at a World Cup.
Kenny said: “He made his decision to go to Belgium and we respect his decision. It’s a professional decision, so we respect that and that’s it.
“I’ve a great relationship with Anthony, it’s not unusual in international football. Look at Northern Ireland, Scotland, England: all their assistants have moved over in the last 18 months, two years. It’s not unusual in international football.”
“It’s only a minor delay, really, from Christmas to March, we’re here now, it’s signed. It’s not just myself, we’ve a whole backroom team that we’ve got to address and so forth.
“We are delighted, this is a good thing, we’re not looking back saying why did this take three months rather than a month.
“A lot of things have to be managed in a big organisation like this so I think it’s irrelevant really. The only thing that matters is it’s signed now and we can move forward.”
