IN an emotionally charged post-match press conference late on Tuesday night, deep in the bowels of the Aviva Stadium, Stephen Kenny managed to hold back the tears, but only just, as he appeared to say goodbye to his dream job.
At 6.40pm on Wednesday, the FAI released a statement to confirm that Kenny's tenure was indeed over.
From the first day he assumed the reins in 2020, he depicted a brighter future for the Republic of Ireland – but his chief role as manager was far from a romantic one.
During his tumultuous three-year tenure, qualifying for major tournaments appeared as far away as ever with the Dubliner embarking on an endless and painstaking rebuild that yielded only 11 wins out of 40 games and 17 defeats.
Just when it appeared progress was being made, the squad had an unerring capacity to produce displays that sent them backwards.
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The highs? Beating Scotland in the Nations League, holding Serbia and Portugal in World Cup qualifiers – both in Dublin – drawing with Ukraine in Lodz and the shafts of light that emerged from narrow defeats to the Portuguese and France.
Of the lows, there were many: losing to Luxembourg and Armenia, drawing with Azerbaijan, the manner of the two defeats to Greece for Euro 2024 qualification, not throwing the kitchen sink at Holland in the second half in Dublin, needing last-gasp interventions to see off Armenia and Lithuania and the 16 games Ireland failed to score in.
Even though he was working with a bunch of international rookies, the majority of whom were playing either in the Championship or League One, or perhaps had dropped down a division, Kenny raised the bar ridiculously high.
Asked if it was a mistake to aim so high with a group of players that lacked the requisite experience to be realistic contenders for qualification, Kenny smiled: “When you set the bar high, your fall can be acute. That’s the nature of how I’ve always managed. It can lead you to incredible highs and setbacks.
“I’ve always been a big picture person rather than build something step by step. I think you have to see what the picture is and see what you can achieve and what can be attained and work towards that. That’s the way I see life.”
The writing has been on the wall ever since the Irish crashed to Greece in Athens back in June - and the match programme notes on Tuesday night from the manager himself and chief executive Jonathan Hill all but acknowledged that it was time for a change in the dug-out.
Last night's statement merely confirmed what had already been decided.
“Of course, it would be a dream to carry on and manage the team but my instinct is that’s not going to happen and the evidence suggests that probably won’t happen,” said Kenny prior to the FAI statement.
Roy Keane, Neil Lennon and Lee Carsley have been touted as possible successors.
“There is no greater honour to manage your country,” said an emotional Kenny. “Whatever you do in life, it’ll be a step down.”
And yet, Kenny leaves the Ireland post as a better manager than when he first came into the job over three years ago and the 52-year-old Dubliner also feels he’s left behind a much better squad than the one he inherited.
“Listen, I think it’s a very exciting squad, it’s a great job now – an absolutely great job now, with the talent, but talent now with experience.
“And they’ll get better between now and the Nations League – I know it’s not until September – but they’ll have much more club experience under their belts… You know, if you picked your best squad with everyone fit there’s a lot of talent in it. It’s a very good job. That’s the way I feel.
“Now, you can’t rely on all your better players being fit [all of the time]. In certain areas we don’t have depth – I know that – some areas of the squad have stronger depth than others.”
There is a host of players that have now served their international apprenticeship under Kenny.
Josh Cullen, Jason Knight, Alan Browne, Nathan Collins, Adam Idah, Jayson Molumby, Dara O’Shea, Chiedozie Ogbene and Troy Parrott have 20-plus caps each at this stage, while Evan Ferguson and Mikey Johnston are sure to play important roles for Ireland over the next few seasons.
Whether all those players are good enough remains to be seen.
Kenny added: “When David McGoldrick retired when I took over, there were four or five forwards that were on the fringes. They were all brilliant people, but some slipped down a division or two and then you’re looking at attacking options after that.
“You’ve got Ogbene, [Michael] Obafemi, Idah, Ferguson – who was only just starting his international journey this year and is obviously a real talent – and Parrot will come good again.
“And Mikey Johnston, as you see, when he gets regular football he’s going to be an absolutely excellent addition, but he just hasn’t been playing.”
On his own growth as a manager, Kenny acknowledged he didn’t always get everything right but that he has evolved throughout this time in the role.
“I have no regrets. But did I get everything right? No, of course I didn’t. What I had to deal with in the first period [COVID], I don’t think anyone will have to deal with. It was so difficult, but that’s the way it is.
“It’s been a massive, massive privilege and I’ve understood that every single day. Yes, there has been a lot of criticism. Listen, now is not the time, but I think it’s very political, the Irish football community is very small and quite political, and I think that’s a disappointing aspect.
“But I just loved the games, particularly the games in the Aviva. I learned a lot in the few years, playing the top teams – playing Portugal, Serbia, France, Holland, Belgium…
“I’ve grown myself in that period. The game is so fast-moving tactically, every year, so fast-moving and you continue learning. And that’s been something I’ve taken on board.”
