A new Ireland Head Coach has finally been installed, with Heimir Hallgrímsson taking over in the hot seat. After failing to get Ireland to Euro 2024, the Football Association of Ireland went on a search to replace Stephen Kenny, who, not surprisingly, didn’t get the offer of a contract extension. The FAI approached Hallgrímsson back in March, but nothing had come of the informal chat, until now.
The 231-day search for a new manager may have ended, but there are still plenty of questions about Ireland’s future. Who is Heimir Hallgrímsson, and what will he bring to the Irish set-up as they look to get themselves on course for the 2026 World Cup? And, if the search took so long, was he really the primary candidate?
Who is Heimir Hallgrímsson?
57-year-old Heimir Hallgrímsson did not have a long or established career as a player, accumulating around 200 matches in total in the lower Icelandic leagues. During his playing career, he also continued to practise as a local dentist in his home village, and his pearly whites were on full show in his inaugural press conference.
Hallgrímsson cut his managerial teeth coaching women’s teams and took over the IBV men’s side mid-season in 2006 for six matches, a stint which ended in relegation to the second tier. But the club stuck with him, and Hallgrímsson rewarded them by taking IBV back to the top flight where he guided them to a couple of top-three finishes.
Hallgrímsson brings crucial international managerial experience with him. But many Irish have been questioning the integrity of the FAI’s decision; why announce Ireland’s manager just weeks after sexual abuse allegations have surfaced around Eamonn Collins?
If it is a marketing ploy by the FAI, it’s difficult to look past. But, in true Irish style, we must welcome Hallgrímsson and give him the benefit of the doubt. Let’s hope he leads our boys to another victory over the Lions!
Hallgrímsson’s coaching career
Hallgrímsson’s first taste came in the role of assistant coach of Iceland, working under Lars Lagerbäck. However, under the duo, Iceland failed to secure qualification for the 2014 World Cup, falling to Croatia in the play-offs.
As Lagerbäck went off to Norway, Hallgrímsson took up the solo reins as Iceland manager and guided them to Euro 2016, their first major tournament. After qualifying from the group stage, Hallgrímsson’s Iceland then pulled off one of the great shocks in European Championship history, beating England 2-1 in the Round of 16 against all the odds.
After bowing out in the quarter-finals against France, Heimir eventually called it quits after failing to get out of the 2018 World Cup group stage. Stints with Qatari side Al-Arabi followed before he became the Head Coach of Jamaica in 2022. However, following a poor performance by the ‘Reggae Boyz’ at the 2024 Copa América, Hallgrímsson resigned, opening the door for the FAI to swoop.
Style, Tactics and Selection Changes to Come?
Being relatively unknown here, we’re questioning what Hallgrímsson is likely to bring to the table as the new Head Coach of Ireland? One thing that established Iceland’s greatest victory against England came during the 2016 Euros with refreshed organisation and structure curated by Hallgrímsson.
The process of Hallgrímsson with the Irish camp will be getting them to do the basics well. There isn’t likely to be an expansive lean towards modern formations. Instead, the rock-solid structure of a 4-4-2 will potentially be the foundation of his work.
With a population of just 370,000 to select from and no abundance of talent playing in Europe’s top leagues, Iceland still had their strengths under Hallgrímsson. They were always a very fit side, full of running and energy, working fantastically hard as a team. It’s what carried them through their excellent World Cup 2018 qualification campaign, winning seven of ten matches.
That structure, those back-to-back qualification campaigns for Iceland’s first two major tournament appearances, would have had great appeal for the FAI. So, it may be more of a case of finding the right players to fit the system, as opposed to just picking the eleven best players are shoe-horning them in.
Ireland’s strength may well rest in their defence, and that could be the big focus for Hallgrímsson to focus on first. Get things right at the back and the rest can be built on.
Ireland have been crying out for a gifted playmaker in the middle of the park, something that needs to be pushed as a priority, along with using Evan Ferguson as far forward where he is more effective than when dropping deep. Other early team decisions for the new Head Coach, are how to get Andrew Moran and U21 captain Joe Hodge to step up.
Youth Teams and Irish Football Development
Hallgrímsson noted during his unveiling, the youthful nature of the Irish squad and talent to call upon. The FAI’s welcoming statements about their new selection also leaned towards the future and that Hallgrímsson was chosen to develop the Irish game at all levels.
The overall development of football in Ireland is potentially going to play an important role during Hallgrímsson’s tenure. The FAI said that Heimir was “hugely passionate” about the development of the underage international teams as well as the senior squad and was on board with the FAI’s football pathways plan to develop talent.
Hallgrímsson to Face England in First Big Test
Smiling through his unveiling at the Aviva Stadium, Hallgrímsson was seen just a few hours later at Tolka Park, watching Shelbourne’s Europa Conference League match against St Joseph’s from Gibraltar as he got straight on the job.
Before his press conference, we were grinding our teeth with concern. But first impressions are everything and it seems that Hallgrímsson was the best candidate for the role. The new Head Coach will have about seven weeks before his first big test comes along.
Fascinatingly, that opening competitive test will be against England in the Nations League, a team he knows well and will have fond memories of matching up against from the 2016 European Championships, one of the biggest nights in Iceland’s history.
Hallgrímsson has already extended an offer to John O’Shea to work with him as an assistant. The former Manchester United defender had served as Ireland’s caretaker boss following Kenny’s departure. So, there will be some continuity there if he is on board for the project.
Getting the backroom staff right, potentially incorporating Brian Barry-Murphy, Paddy McCarthy and Glenn Whelan into his staff, is the first order of business for Hallgrímsson and the quicker that’s done the better.
Among the other first big tests for the new Head Coach will be to start looking for new captain material, with Everton’s Seamus Coleman turning 36 later this year. It’s going to be tough to replace a player of such stature but the future calls.
At the end of the day, there will be one thing on everyone’s mind: results. And any kind of result against England later in the year will be a huge positive. Even if that’s an embattled 0-0 draw, it would be a point well-earned. As we eagerly wait Hallgrímsson debut in seven weeks, keep up to date with TonyBet for upcoming football fixtures.
