http://wwa.rte.ie/sport/2002/1105/soccer/mccarthym.html http://www.soccernet.com/europe/news/2002/1105/20021105mccarthy.html http://msn.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,1860-1069469,00.html He looks to be on his way...
No , he not just on his way ....He is Gone . according the Ireland.com anyway. not dancing on his grave or anything but never has a quote been so apt.... The King is dead ...long live the King
McCarthy's six-year reign as Irish boss draws to a close Last updated: 05-11-02, 15:23 The reign of Europe's longest-serving international manager looks to be over today as Irish soccer boss Mick McCarthy is reported to have agreed to leave the post he has occupied since March 1996. McCarthy's contract was not due to expire until February 2004, but a source close to the 43-year-old confirmed he had negotiated a compensation package with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) and will leave immediately. McCarthy will arrive in Dublin from his home in England to finalise the formalities. The FAI are expected to make an official announcement of McCarthy's departure on Wednesday. The Yorkshire-born coach has been under intense pressure to resign ever since expelling Roy Keane, the Republic's most influential player, from the Irish World Cup squad in May. He was able to fend off criticism, however, when his team progressed to the tournaments second round, eventually falling to Spain after a penalty shoot-out. Indeed, that performance earned him a £100,000 sterling bonus. The pressure swelled up again, however, after the recent publication of the autobiographies of both Keane and the Republic's record goalscorer Niall Quinn, both of whom described shambolic preparations for Irish matches. The team's dreadful start to their Euro 2004 campaign with defeats to Russia and Switzerland saw the pressure intensify, with almost all of the Irish media calling for the managers head.
Cheers Mick, But I'm saying goodbye without a tinge of regret. In my opinion, his team selection for the last 4 competitive games was absolutely dire and was more about making a point to critics than winning games for Ireland. I hope this signals the relegation of Harte, Breen & Kilbane to the international wilderness where they belong. And I hope Duff will now be installed on the left and the Kinsella/Holland combo will be broken up. That's all I want for Christmas!
This is truly a sad day for Irish soccer. While I supported Keane over the Saipan debacle I always though McCarthy should have remained in the job until we were knocked out of the Euro qualifiers. Will the next manager do better? Maybe if he brings Keane back.
Keane will probably be out till January recovering from his hip op. Depending on the makeup of the "new" team. Keano could well be back in the future I would think...
Don't count on it. I can't see FergusHun happily allowing Keane off to Albania in Georgia for essentially meaningless matches in February while ManU begin their assault on the Champions League.
Breaking news, Keanes out until the new year, so we wont be seing how this situation peters out for a while. Certinally, Givens short reign will be a Keaneless one.
The matches are of course meaningless to Man Utd, but they are critical to our now slim but certainly not hopeless chances of qualification.
Well, most of you got your wish.... ...now who is gonna take a job no one really wants because of Roy Keane? Roy Keane?
No one wants? People are lineing up, Kinnear says he wants it and Alridge said he'd "Swim the Irish sea" to get the job.
HALLELUJAH! hallelujah,hallelujah. HALLELUJAH! DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD, WHICH OLD WITCH THE WICKED OLD WITCH. IRELAND HAS BEEN LIBERATED FROM A HASBEEN!
Just judging by some of the ugly reaction to his resignation, he's done the right thing to be shot of us! Corrupt politicans and businessmen go about their affairs largely unbothered by having been caught out, known terrorists and gangsters walk the streets unpunished, yet Mick is the victim of some of the vilest abuse you'll hear thrown at anyone... Anyway, I have mixed feelings to the news. On one level, it makes sense. That fall-out last May was like nothing seen before in the history of sport in this country and it has created a split within Irish football that has only worsened as time has gone on. Accordingly, Mick remaining on was probably no longer in the best interests of the team. On the other hand, I never like seeing a decent man ground down and no amount of window-dressing can hide the vindictive nature of some the media assaults on him. Good luck to him now. He did a good job from unlikely beginnings and, as the end came, he kept his dignity. More than can be said for some of his critics...
It takes balls to play A lot of Man U… I mean Irish fan seem to be quick to kick Mick in the arse as he is walking out the door. Like it or not Mick got the Republic to the last 16 of the World Cup. Only one other person who has lived on this planet has done better. 4 years from now or even 8 years on, let's see if anyone else can compare. Some people have short memories or maybe I just too old but I remember the days when ROI just dreamed of being able to win a game, let alone qualify for a World Cup. McCarthy pushed us to being ranked 13 in the world, not bad for a nation of 3.5 million and yet our so called fans now spit in Mick's face all because he confronted a sulky, big headed, over paid, pompous, psycho on his egocentric behavior. I hope we don’t rue the day. In my mind Roy Keane is a traitor who put his own agenda in front of national pride. The FAI, if they have any balls, should never let him be selected for the national team again. He has never shown much allegiance to Ireland and has only been a proud faithful servant to his imperial masters. Well done Mick McCarthy, you have served your country well, as a player and as a coach. I’m sure that all Irish emigrants, like myself, take great pride in what you have accomplished for the land of our childhood. Thanks for the great memories, Mick To the FAI, I sorry, I forgot you always seem to leave your balls at home.
Re: It takes balls to play I'm no big fan of Roy Keane and have often defended Mick from these vindictive ManU/Dunphy types, therefore I hope Mick does well in the future, he's still a young man for management. I am definetly no fan of the clowns in Merrion Square. Having said that Mick's time had most certainly come to go. And please leave out the tired old "poor little Ireland" crap.
Re: Re: It takes balls to play Here here. Keane didn't pick Kilbane on the left against Russia and Switzerland. He didn't play one of the best left wingers in Europe out of position. He didn't omit one of the best young centre halves in England for a limited West Ham reserve who couldn't trap a beach ball. He didn't persist with a left back so bad that his club's fans are demanding the promotion of an untried youth team player in his stead. In my book, Keane is a total and utter twat. However, we have no chance of qualifiying without him. And we had even less chance of qualifiying with a manager who's team selection was based more on loyalty than reality. Mick seems to be a lovely bloke and I would never doubt his passion for Ireland. But he's lost the plot. And please stop with the poor little nation of 3.5million rubbish. We've had that debate. We are one of the richest 15 countries in the world. We have a playing pool far beyond the 3.5 million residents of the Republic of Ireland. Fact, as David Brent would say.
Re: Re: Re: It takes balls to play Comments about the size of the country or player pool we have don't really bother me so much, I just hate the mentality that says we were completely sh1te once upon a time so we should shut up and be happy once we have risen anywhere above that level i.e. We qualified for the world cup under Mick hence he is now above critisism. As if we are somehow overachieving or lucky when we do well!
Re: Re: It takes balls to play I have to agree with you there. Would McCarthy have gone if we were not beaten by Russia and Switzerland? No. Even if they were two draws he probably would have stayed. You could even make a case that if we had not conceeded that late goal against the Swiss that he would have stayed. People are going on about he left because of Roy Keane. No he didnt. Duff would walk on to any club team in Europe to play on the wing, but he sticks him up front? Come on now. O'Shea playing in the Champions League and Breen mostly on the West Ham bench?
thanks for all the memories mick, more good than bad. it's been a hell of a journey i'll toast my next drink to you!