The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) are actively searching for a new manager to lead the Republic of Ireland national team following the unceremonious departure of Stephen Kenny in November last year.
This represents perhaps the most crucial task for the FAI in recent years, as their managerial appointment will shape the future of the national team.
The FAI refrained from handing Kenny a new contract following a colossally disappointing 2024 European Championship qualifying campaign, ending his three-year reign as Ireland manager.
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley had been identified as the primary candidate to assume the vacant role, but the FAI were dealt a huge blow when he reaffirmed his commitment to the Young Lions.
The FAI have other candidates on their extensive shortlist, although none admittedly as exciting as Carsley, even though he has yet to prove himself at senior level.
Neil Lennon and Gus Poyet are a couple of the names floated around. But whoever takes the Irish job will be tasked with moulding the team in his image ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, and the addition of young talents should be paramount.
The Irish national team have flopped in recent tournaments, but the infusion of young talents could inject a newfound energy and dynamism, revitalising the team’s performance on the international stage.
The new manager faces the daunting task of galvanising the squad into a unit ready to defy the bookmakers’ odds and compete for a spot in the tournament.
Punters on the Emerald Isle will naturally be keen to wager on Ireland on Irish betting sites to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. However, they’d be more enthusiastic if fresh and exciting talents are integrated into the team.
Ireland’s tendency to disappoint has seen them priced at odds of 1001.00 to win the World Cup, but those odds would be cut if the new manager shakes things up with the addition of young players.
With that in mind, here are four young talents the new manager must build his Irish team around ahead of the highly anticipated qualifiers.
Evan Ferguson
Since rising to prominence in the Premier League with Brighton & Hove Albion, Evan Ferguson’s popularity within the Irish national team has surged, and he is slowly establishing himself as a regular.
Since making his debut for the national team in November 2022, Ferguson has netted three goals in eight appearances for the Boys in Green.
Ferguson is quickly developing a reputation as a natural-born goalscorer, and the 19-year-old sensation has all the tools necessary to become a world beater in the future.
Ireland’s incoming manager must build his new-look team around Ferguson, who will be expected to fire his nation to the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Gavin Bazunu
Gavin Bazunu has already established himself as the Irish national team’s number-one goalkeeper and will be looking to retain his place under the new manager.
There could be a temptation of going with the more experienced Caoimhin Kelleher. However, Bazunu plays more regularly than the Liverpool benchwarmer and should form a core part of the new manager’s team.
Bazunu is playing a crucial role in Southampton’s push for Premier League promotion and could be plying his trade in the top flight next season.
His impressive performances for the Saints prove he can be Ireland’s designated shot-stopper for the foreseeable future.
Andrew Moran
Andrew Moran is another top Irish talent who has been making waves in the Championship and should be integrated into the national team set-up.
The Brighton loanee has been a creative spark for Blackburn Rovers during what has been a difficult campaign for the former Premier League champions.
The 20-year-old has impressed with his excellent technical ability and is versatile enough to feature in a number of positions behind a centre-forward.
He could establish a formidable partnership with Ferguson at the top end of the pitch. Moran only has one cap but should also be in the new manager’s plans for the long-term future.
Sam Curtis
Sam Curtis is a promising Irish talent who should be on the radar of the incoming manager after producing several impressive performances in the Irish Premier Division.
The 18-year-old has been a regular at St Patrick’s Athletic over the past two seasons, and has now been snapped up by Sheffield United.
Curtis is already the first-choice right back in the Irish under-21s national team, but he has impressed enough to be fast-tracked into the senior squad.
He has been touted as one of the most exciting Irish talents around and should serve as an understudy to Matt Doherty and Seamus Coleman.
