Damien Duff: Anthony Barry would be an amazing appointment for Ireland
Damien Duff admits Anthony Barry would be an “amazing” appointment if the FAI succeeds in luring him into his first managerial role.
There’s been no specific date supplied by the association despite them promising an early April unveiling when last month installing John O’Shea as interim boss.
Like the centurion who stood in for the friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland last month, Barry has never managed a team, selected a side nor held a press conference.
His reputation as a coach has been carved from support roles for bosses at Chelsea and Bayern Munich.
Roberto Martinez also brought the set-piece specialist with him from Belgium to Portugal and they have the Euros to participate in this summer.
Barry is due to depart Bayern with Thomas Tuchel next month in a move announced after they drifted from the Bundesliga title race.
Tuchel dismissed the prospect of losing Barry shortly after the Ireland vacancy arose in late November while the club itself denied in January they had been approached by the FAI for permission to negotiate with Barry.
By that stage, FAI chief executive Jonathan Hill had claimed himself and director of football Marc Canham had spoken to all their various candidates.
Lee Carsley topped that list and though contact remained after their initial meeting in December he didn’t feel the terms or timing were right to depart his reigning Euro U21 champions England.
Sources close to Gus Poyet then reported he’d rejected the offer of a four-year deal. He managed Greece during last month’s playoff final against opponents Georgia managed by another contender, Willy Sagnol.
Poyet’s contract expired following their penalty shootout defeat and he appears to be assessing his options after what was
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