The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) is the governing body for football in Ireland; they oversee improving the players, developing the coaches, and maintaining an optimal environment for the sport to be played in. Hiring new talent is a great way that the FAI can boost their budget, advance their statistics and bring newfound faith into the football community. So, how could this lead to Ireland performing on the European stage?
How Has The FAI Changed In Recent Years?
Between the years of 2004 and 2019, John Delaney was the chief executive officer of the FAI. After 14 years, Delaney shocked the nation by resigning from his post thanks to a myriad of controversies surrounding him and criticizing his abilities. The principal issue that the FAI council were having was a budget crisis, because of secret loans that were unaccounted for, that Delaney was supposedly lending the FAI. This and other mismanaged accounting discrepancies led to a debt that affected the overall budget and were detrimental to the performance of Irish football.
Another factor to consider is that when Delaney was brought in, there was plenty of European talent in the FAI from the women’s under 17s to the men’s senior team. This included Damien Duff (Chelsea), Roy Keene (Manchester United), and Robbie Keane (Liverpool). However, it was disappointing to all when these talented players slowly dropped off, leading to less and less players performing in European leagues. A quick look at the Irish bookmakers like Bet Ireland show that Irish players rarely feature as goal scorer contenders in the EPL and this is no surprise. This lack of representation was not up to scratch, and ultimately is another factor for why a new chief executive officer was hired.
After Delaney’s Resignation, Jonathon Hill stepped up to the role of the FAI’s chief executive officer in 2019. Hill successfully repaired the bleak financial situation that football was in but was difficult to manage. Therefore, it is no surprise that recently in April 2024, it was announced he too would be stepping down. A new leader could be just what the FAI needs to dominate Europe. For the time being, David Courell has been temporarily appointed until an appropriate substitute has been found. The next chief executive officer could be anyone, but there is speculation that Sarah Keane, the first female president of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, is likely to land the role.
How Can The FAI Help Ireland Perform On The European Stage?
There is plenty of hope for the FAI both now and in the future. A great example of this is hosting the UEFA Europa League Final in May 2024 at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, where Atalanta crushed Bayer Leverkusen in a 3-0 defeat.
Another recent confirmation is that the highly anticipated Euros 2028, will be held in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Hence, Ireland have put themselves on the map after years of turbulence and uncertainty in the FAI. This means that the prestigious competition which sees 28 team try out for the winning title will take place in Irish stadiums located in Dublin, Belfast, and more.
Furthermore, there is a predicted €2.6 billion to be made from hosting, a great portion of which will go towards Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This income will be generated not only by significant ticket sales, but the influx of tourism that will inevitably flood the country. By having the opportunity to accommodate the games, money will flow back into the FAI which has a knock-on effect and can lead to upgraded stadiums, better players, and more advanced coaches. Essentially, the benefits will continuously be obtained.
As of right now, there are a few Irish players that are an integral part of European teams. This famously includes Seamus Coleman (right back at Everton), Gavin Bazunu (goalkeeper at Southampton), and Nathan Collins (centre back or full back at Brentford). However, with the shake up of the FAI, hopefully more big names can be brought in, that will then go on to sign with major teams. It would be good to see players transferring to Manchester United, Manchester City and other affluent teams, just like it was before John Delaney came into power. The Republic of Ireland national football team is currently in good shape, but with new management can go on to achieve greater triumphs.
Conclusion
Overall, Irish teams are set to have better representation in European stages because of changes within the FAI which will hopefully lead to success. Teams like Shamrock Rover, St Patrick’s Athletic, Slingo Rovers and other similar squads in Ireland can return after poor rankings and impress viewers in competitions like the UEFA Europa League. With a new chief executive officer, an opportunity to host some of the biggest football matches of the decade, and new young players who can improve rankings, Ireland may just succeed in dominating Europe.
