Ireland Secure Coaching Stability Through Euro 2028
The Republic of Ireland have moved to secure stability on the touchline, tying assistant coaches John O'Shea, Paddy McCarthy and Gudmundur “Gummi” Hreidarsson to new deals running until 2028.
The trio’s extensions mirror the contract of head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, who committed earlier this year to stay in charge through the end of the Euro 2028 qualifying cycle. With the tournament to be staged in the UK and Ireland, the Football Association of Ireland has made a clear bet on continuity ahead of a rare opportunity to play for a major finals on home soil.
Hallgrimsson hailed his backroom team, underlining just how central they have become to his project since he took over.
“Since I arrived, John, Paddy, and Gummi have been an incredible support to me and integral to everything we are building here,” he said, stressing their detailed understanding of both the squad and the domestic game. “Their knowledge of the players and the Irish game is invaluable. I am delighted that we will continue to work together to drive this team forward and achieve the results our fans deserve.”
O’Shea, who briefly stepped into the spotlight as interim manager earlier this year, guiding Ireland through four fixtures before Hallgrimsson’s appointment, now settles back into a key supporting role with a long-term mandate. For the former Manchester United defender, the extension carries clear personal significance.
He described himself as “honoured” to continue, and spoke of an “incredibly exciting time for Irish football,” underlining that his focus is fixed on helping steer the national side to a major tournament at Uefa Euro 2028.
McCarthy will keep straddling club and country, maintaining his coaching duties at Crystal Palace while remaining part of the Ireland setup. Hreidarsson, a seasoned figure in European football circles, continues as another trusted voice in Hallgrimsson’s inner circle.
The timing is deliberate. Ireland return to action later this month as they open their Uefa Nations League campaign, with fixtures against Kosovo, Israel and Austria. Those games will not just test Hallgrimsson’s evolving squad; they will also mark the first steps of a coaching team now contracted to stay together right through a defining chapter for Irish football.
