The FAI has confirmed that Stephen Kenny’s Assistant Manager Keith Andrews, Assistant Coach John O’Shea, Chief Scout and Opposition Analyst Stephen Rice, Goalkeeping Coach Dean Kiely and Athletic Performance Coach Damien Doyle have all left their roles, following the ending of Kenny’s reign as manager last night.
A review of the coaching staff will take place once the new Head Coach is appointed.
“We would like to thank Keith, John, Stephen, Dean and Damien for their excellent service and commitment,” said FAI Director of Football Marc Canham.
“I would particularly like to thank Keith Andrews who has served the Association so well in the Assistant Manager role with both the U-21s and senior team, and he leaves with our very best wishes for his future career in football.”
“The level of professionalism each of them have brought to their roles over their period of time with the Association has been exemplary and we’re extremely grateful for their hard work with the senior men’s national team. They leave with the Association’s gratitude and respect, and the FAI wish them all the very best in the future.”
It is brutal at the highest levels of elite sport and there will have been little surprise among the coaches about this turn of events.
One small story that shows the measure of Andrews. I was out at FAI HQ a few months back and was on my way out the main entrance. Andrews had gone out just before me, laden down with bags of balls but when he realised he had let the door close on someone he leaned back in a feat of admirable dexterity to grab and hold it open.
He didn’t know me from Adam, it was just a simple act of polite behaviour but sometimes the little things stick.
We wish them well.
