Former Wales manager Chris Coleman has emerged as a strong candidate for the Republic of Ireland senior men's job. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is actively seeking a permanent appointment before the upcoming international break, and while Lee Carsley, England's Under-21 coach, has long been the favored choice, negotiations with him have hit a roadblock.
Although the possibility of Carsley still joining the Irish team is not entirely ruled out, it would require significant efforts to convince him at this stage. Consequently, Ireland has turned its attention to other options, with Chris Coleman standing out due to his successful tenure with Wales and his Irish heritage through his Dublin-born father. Coleman has previously expressed his interest in managing the Irish team.
During his time with Wales, Coleman achieved remarkable success by leading the team to the semi-finals of Euro 2016, albeit with the support of world-class player Gareth Bale at his peak. However, this potential appointment appears to deviate from the FAI's preference for an on-pitch progressive coach, as Coleman is perceived as more old-fashioned in his approach.
Following his departure from Wales in 2017, Coleman went on to manage Sunderland before his most recent coaching spell with Greek side Atromitos, which concluded in October 2023.
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