REPUBLIC OF IRELAND MANAGER Stephen Kenny has said his full priority is on Euro 2024 despite being questioned about his long-term future this week.
One of the biggest stories this week was Ireland's submission with the UK to UEFA to host Euro 2028.
Croke Park, the Aviva Stadium, and an unbuilt Casement Park are three of the stadia submitted via a 14 stadia shortlist.
Kenny's future in previous years has come under constant scrutiny from pundits and fans for the up and down results.
This year, Kenny signed a new deal with the FAI ending any speculation that he was set to lose his job with Ireland.
After another poor Nations League, the rumours have started to emerge once more.
The Ireland boss will take a young Ireland side into a difficult Euro 2024 campaign containing the Netherlands and France.
Kenny was asked if he was looking past the next Euros campaign and if managing Ireland at Euro 2028 was something he'd be interested in.
With an impressive batch of youngsters coming through the ranks, the future looks bright for Ireland but Stephen Kenny is not getting carried away. https://t.co/th1khJo70I #RTEsoccer
— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) November 16, 2022
"I’m not looking that far forward," said Kenny. "I’m not looking further than the European championships and for this campaign, to do my utmost to get the team to perform to the best of their ability and try and qualify."
It was suggested that the current squad may be hitting their peak for the 2028 tournament, and while Kenny admitted that it was not something he had considered, he used the opportunity to pay tribute to the coaches of the underage teams in recognition of the young players coming through and breaking into the senior squad.
"I suppose with the age profile, I see the point of course, but it’s not something I can really focus on, Euro 2028," said Kenny.
"But there is a good production line of talent and it’s a credit to all of the international managers, the underage ones who do terrific work, and the grassroots clubs who provide them.
"We’ve seen it with the emergence of so many players in the first team now…Evan Ferguson coming in for the first time, he’ll be a different player at that time."
Despite this Kenny believes that his young Ireland stars like Evan Ferguson, Gavin Bazunu, and others may reach their peak by the team Euro 2028 comes around.
"I suppose with the age profile, I see the point of course, but it’s not something I can really focus on, Euro 2028," added Kenny.
"But there is a good production line of talent and it’s a credit to all of the international managers, the underage ones who do terrific work, and the grassroots clubs who provide them.
"We’ve seen it with the emergence of so many players in the first team now…Evan Ferguson coming in for the first time, he’ll be a different player at that time."
Ireland play Norway tonight at 7.45pm tonight.
See More: Euro 2024, Football, Ireland, Stephen Kenny
