DUBLIN: Ireland confirmed Mick McCarthy’s return as manager on Sunday and that he would give way to Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny after the 2020 European Championship in a double appointment attempting to address short- and long-term concerns. McCarthy, the former Ireland captain who managed the side from 1996-2002, takes over from Martin O’Neill who left along with assistant Roy Keane last week amid a run of six matches without victory and ahead of qualification for the Euro 2020 finals when Dublin will host four games. In an unusual move, McCarthy will manage the team until the end of that campaign and then be replaced by Kenny, who has led Dundalk to four League of Ireland titles in five years.
Published in Daily Times, November 26th 2018.