Stephen Kenny in thinly-veiled Martin O’Neill swipe as Ireland boss aims dig at predecessors over ‘hammerings’
The Ireland gaffer looks set to be axed from his position as soon as next week after a dreadful run of form.
Stephen Kenny has pointed to previous failures of Ireland managers when questioned on his position - including aiming a dig at Martin O'Neill.
The beleaguered Ireland boss looks set to be axed from his position after a dreadful EURO 2024 campaign saw the side lose a double header with Greece before being taught harsh lessons by France and Holland. Kenny oversaw six defeats in the campaign with only two wins over minnows Gibraltar enough to keep the Irish off the bottom of Group B. Reports suggest the 52-year-old will be relieved of his duties when a review is put to the FAI board next week, but the coach is going out swinging.
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon is among the rumoured candidates to succeed Kenny should he lose his job, but the Irishman took a swing at O'Neill's tenure in the dugout by referring to a damaging 4-1 defeat to Wales that came under his watch in 2018. Kenny also took aim at "hammerings" overseen by the likes of Mick McCarthy in defending his own spell in charge.
He said: "Listen, we played Holland the other night, one of the best teams in Europe. People will have their own opinions on it but I thought it was a good game of football.
“No question, Holland were the better team. We fought to the end of that game, we didn't create enough, we know that, and we defended for our lives when we needed to. It wasn't like we lost 4-1 to Wales or got hammered in Cyprus or Macedonia the other night, it was a tight game in Holland that we lost 1-0 and deserved to lose. It was one of those games, I think a bit of perspective on that, you know?
“I sought clarification before this window in regard to my own position, the decision is being made next week. If it is my last game, so be it, if there is a new manager to follow me in that regard, I’ll wish him well, if that is the case and they make that decision. I’ll wish the team well moving forward, and I’ll always support Ireland, so from that point of view, that’s the way I view it.”