Ireland's Eileen Gleeson has confirmed that she would love to stay on as the manager of the women's team, but for now, her focus is on getting Ireland past Wales and into the European Championships in 2025.
The Girls in Green will play Wales on November 29, next Friday week, in Cardiff, and then they will welcome Wales to Dublin on December 3 for the return leg at the Aviva Stadium.
The Dublin native, who took over from Vera Pauw, has excelled in the role, guiding Ireland to a Nations League promotion and bringing the team to the cusp of another major tournament.
Football job security is a funny game, and who knows, Gleeson's Ireland future could come to an end if she and the team fail to overcome Wales next week and the following Tuesday.
Even though there have been no discussions about a contract extension, Gleeson confirms that she loves the job and would like to continue, but her priorities for now are firmly on the Wales double-header.
🗣️"I love the role...I want to continue"
Ireland boss Eileen Gleeson speaks on her future, ahead of Ireland's play-off clash with Wales next week | ☘️
Football on OTB w/ @williamhillire. pic.twitter.com/ADLHbKIo6n
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) November 21, 2024
"I want to continue," Gleeson said to RTE Sport on Thursday. "I love being in the job; I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, and that’s the way I want it to continue.
"But right now, the focus is on getting these two games done.
"(FAI Chief Football Officer) Marc Canham and I speak all the time; we have a really positive relationship. There's been no discussion around a contract; I want to keep all focus... I don’t have the capacity to focus on anything else, only Wales. That’s all I think about. No formal discussions, no.
"Post the games, then we’ll be able to talk about conversations around that. But I’m trying to keep all my brain power for these games."
15,000 tickets have already been sold for the second leg, and Gleeson believes this is huge for the team. The Ireland boss is also keen for everyone with a ticket to make it to the game, as she wants the atmosphere to be magical.
"Huge, it’s huge," added Gleeson. "We kept talking about the seeded places for the draw and where we’d end up, but one of the rewards of that was that you would be in your home stadium for the second leg.
"To come home here to the Aviva, I think there are already over 15,000 tickets sold; we’re hoping everybody comes out because it can be a historic night. That’s what we’re aiming to make it for everybody, but to have the fans with us and to have that atmosphere, it will be magical. It’s a big thing."
Ireland WNT Squad
Goalkeepers: Courtney Brosnan (Everton), Grace Moloney (London City Lionesses), Sophie Whitehouse (Charlton Athletic)
Defenders: Jessie Stapleton (Sunderland, on loan from West Ham United), Diane Caldwell (FC Zurich), Niamh Fahey (Liverpool), Aoife Mannion (Manchester United), Caitlin Hayes (Celtic), Anna Patten (Aston Villa), Megan Campbell (London City Lionesses)
Midfielders: Katie McCabe (Arsenal), Denise O’Sullivan (North Carolina Carolina), Megan Connolly (Lazio), Lily Agg (Birmingham City), Tyler Toland (Blackburn Rovers), Ruesha Littlejohn (London City Lionesses), Heather Payne (Everton), Marissa Sheva (Portland Thorns), and Izzy Atkinson (Crystal Palace)
Forwards: Kyra Carusa (San Diego Wave), Abbie Larkin (Crystal Palace), Amber Barrett (Standard Liege), Leanne Kiernan (Liverpool), Julie-Ann Russell (Galway United)
UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying Play-Off
Round 2, First Leg
Cymru v Ireland
Friday, November 29th
Cardiff City Stadium
KO 19:15
LIVE on RTÉ2/RTÉ / RTÉ Player
UEFA EURO 2025 Qualifying Play-Off
Round 2, Second Leg
Ireland v Cymru
Tuesday, December 3rd
Aviva Stadium
KO 19:30
LIVE on RTÉ2 / RTÉ Player
See More: EILEEN GLEESON, Football, Ireland
