Republic of Ireland Coaching Team Secured Through Euro 2028

The Republic of Ireland have moved to secure long-term stability on the touchline, with coaches John O'Shea, Paddy McCarthy and Gudmundur Hreidarsson all signing contract extensions through to 2028.

The trio will remain in place alongside head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson, whose own deal was extended earlier this year to cover the full qualifying cycle for Euro 2028, a tournament that will be staged in the UK and Ireland. The message from Abbottstown is clear: the project is built to run right up to a home European Championship.

McCarthy will continue to juggle his international duties with his role on the coaching staff at Crystal Palace, maintaining his link with the Premier League while staying embedded in Hallgrimsson’s backroom team.

Coaching Team's Importance

Hallgrimsson underlined how central the three assistants have become since he took charge.

“Since I arrived, John, Paddy, and Gummi have been an incredible support to me and integral to everything we are building here,” he said. “Their knowledge of the players and the Irish game is invaluable. I am delighted that we will continue to work together to drive this team forward and achieve the results our fans deserve.”

O'Shea, who stepped in as interim boss for four matches in 2024 before Hallgrimsson’s appointment, spoke of the pride he feels at committing his future to the set-up.

He said he is “honoured” to extend his deal and stressed the scale of the opportunity ahead.

“It is an incredibly exciting time for Irish football, and I am fully focused on helping lead this team toward a major tournament on home soil at Uefa Euro 2028,” the former Manchester United defender added.

Looking Ahead

Attention now turns back to the pitch. The Republic of Ireland resume action later this month with the start of their Uefa Nations League campaign, facing Kosovo, Israel and Austria — early tests for a coaching group now tied to the long game.