Former Republic of Ireland striker Clinton Morrison has backed his old friend Lee Carsley to secure the Ireland managerial position. The role remains vacant following the departure of former manager Stephen Kenny in November.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has asserted their intention to appoint a replacement before Ireland's upcoming double-header in March, where they will face Belgium on Saturday, March 23, and Switzerland on Tuesday, March 26.
One of the names linked to the position is Lee Carsley, the former Ireland international and current manager of the England U-21s. Despite lacking experience in a senior role, Carsley is being considered Kenny's long-term successor. Morrison, who has worked with Carsley and also praised former Celtic manager Neil Lennon, expressed his support for either candidate.
"Yeah, I've worked with Lennon. He's a good manager, and I like Neil Lennon a lot. I think he's a great guy, and he's a good manager. He has a great CV, and I think he would be a good appointment if that's the route they go down. Another name I like a lot and would throw into the hat is Lee Carsley because I think he's doing a great job with the England under-21s, "he said to OLBG
Lee Carsley is being tipped to take over from Stephen Kenny (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)"He was my roommate for the Republic of Ireland, and I know he knows a lot about the country because he played for them, so I think he'd be the ideal appointment. But I think either Lennon or Carsley would be great for Ireland; I think it'd be two quality appointments."
Reflecting on Kenny's legacy, Morrison acknowledged the former manager's emphasis on promoting young Irish talent. Kenny's tenure saw over 20 young players introduced to the senior team. Morrison believes that Ireland possesses quality players, and the next manager will benefit from Kenny's groundwork.
"There are some good players in the Ireland squad and a lot of talented players. I like Jason Knight, and I think everyone loves Evan Ferguson; he's going to be a superstar. He’s exactly what Ireland has been desperate for: a striker to score goals. Whoever gets that job, they've got a lot of good youngsters to work with.
"Playing for Ireland provided me with some of the best football memories of my career. The fans are fantastic. They'll get behind this young group of players, as long as they give 100%. The main focus now is getting the right manager in because that’s what we need to start qualifying for tournaments."
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