- Ireland is looking for a new permanent manager
- Roberto Di Matteo watched the defeat against Switzerland from the stands
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The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has ruled out Roberto Di Matteo as a candidate for the national team’s next permanent manager.
Di Matteo, who won the Champions League with Chelsea as interim coach in 2012, watched Ireland’s friendly against Switzerland at the Aviva Stadium with FAI CEO Jonathan Hill on Tuesday evening.
The sight of the pair together quickly led to speculation that the former Italy international could be installed as Stephen Kenny’s replacement, with the likelihood of him being installed as Ireland’s new manager from 80-1 to 20- 1 would go.
But the FAI subsequently confirmed to reporters that the former West Bromwich and Aston Villa boss was not in the running for the job.
The FAI has said it will appoint Kenny’s successor early next month and interim manager John O’Shea has received popular support in the past week.
Roberto Di Matteo (right) was spotted at the Aviva Stadium for Ireland’s friendly against Switzerland with FAI CEO Jonathan Hill (left)
The former Chelsea manager met Irish great Packie Bonner (right)
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Under the former Manchester United defender, Ireland drew 0-0 against Belgium on Saturday and lost 1-0 to Switzerland on Tuesday.
And O’Shea insisted he is ‘more than ready’ for management, despite his spell as interim Republic of Ireland boss ending in disappointment.
‘My instinct would be that I am more than willing and capable of becoming a manager.
O’Shea has extensive experience of international football as a player (he was capped 118 times for Ireland) and has worked under Kenny as a coach with both the Under-21s and the senior team. He also held club roles at Reading, Stoke and Birmingham.
Asked if he would seek clarity from the FAI on his chances of being considered for the vacancy, the 42-year-old said: “I think that’s something that we will obviously discuss later.
‘For me the entire focus was on the two games, enjoy the moment, learn from it and really understand it, learn about myself in terms of how I deal with the situation, with the games, and learn if I want to do it more.
Interim manager John O’Shea insisted he was willing to take on the job full-time
Ireland lost 1-0 at home to Switzerland on Tuesday, after drawing 0-0 against Belgium last week
‘And look, the emphatic answer from me would be: yes. But where that is, let’s wait and see.
‘As I’ve said before, it just leaves me wanting more, whether it’s with Ireland or club football or whatever.
“It’s something I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m completely immersed in it. It’s just annoying that we didn’t win in either game.”