The Republic of Ireland have appointed former Aston Villa manager Carl Ward as their new head coach after the nation failed to qualify for Euro 2025.
The appointment follows a turbulent period for Ireland, after they failed to qualify for this summer’s Euros. A 2-1 aggregate defeat by Wales in the play-off final was enough to send a smoke signal to the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), who decided not to renew the contract of former head coach Gleeson.
The former Aston Villa boss has penned a deal that will see her lead Ireland until the end of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
90 min brings you everything you need to know about Ireland’s new menu…
The Carla Ward era has officially begun. 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/XviKPCW1I5
— Irish Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) January 15, 2025
The girls in green will be hoping this one sticks, having waved goodbye to former head coach Gleeson after just one year in charge. Gleeson took over after the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, when former head coach Vera de Pauw was sacked.
Controversy surrounded de Pauw following her reported involvement in a misconduct scandal that occurred during her time with NWSL side Houston Dash. Partnering with rumors of a “fallout” with Ireland captain Katie McCabe, the FAI decided not to extend de Pauw’s contract after the Australia and New Zealand tournaments.
Ireland now enter a whole new era as Ward walks through the door. The 41-year-old comes with plenty of experience in the women’s game, as well as glowing reviews from her former players.
Before she stepped on the touchline, Ward was once a player who wore the jerseys of several English clubs throughout her career. Sheffield FC, where she was the longest serving in her job, surpassing 200 appearances and 100 goals during her time as club captain.
Ward then began her coaching career at Sheffield United, where she signed a player-assistant manager contract in 2017. She was given a permanent head coaching role in 2018, leading the team for two seasons before finally leaving in 2020.
The 41-year-old then spent one season in charge of Birmingham City, where the club narrowly avoided relegation WSL after 11th place. Despite the lowly finish, Ward was named in the shortlist for WSL Manager of the Season after a turbulent campaign with the club. Players and staff have lodged formal complaints with the club’s board, claiming that the facilities provided do not allow them to play to their best.
In the summer of 2021, Ward signed for Aston Villa, where she stayed for three seasons. The head coach designed the Villans to finish in fifth place in the 2022/23 season. – a campaign in which main striker Rachel Daly took home the Golden Boot.
Ward is at the end of the 2023/24 season. announced her departure from the Birmingham club, explaining her desire to step away from the chaos for a moment.
Less than a year later, Ward will embark on a brand new journey with the Republic of Ireland.
The new manager will get some high-quality helping hands, as former Republic of Ireland international Alan Mahon becomes the new assistant coach. Mahon joins the Irish ranks after spending the last 10 years with Barclays Women’s Super League (WSL) giants Manchester City.
Former Arsenal legend Emma Byrne will also remain as goalkeeping coach after joining the staff following Gleeson’s arrival.
Ward will make her Ireland coaching debut when the Girls in Green face Turkey in the UEFA Women’s Nations League on February 21 at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
Following her departure from Aston Villa in May 2024, Ward described the decision as one “to prioritize other important things – like my daughter and the rest of my family life.”
Speaking exclusively for 90 min in NovemberWard expressed the difficulty of balancing motherhood and full-time training.
“I probably didn’t realize how exhausted I was from all of that and trying to be a single mom while doing that job was almost impossible,” Ward said. 90 min.
After spending time at the Paris Olympics as a member of Emma Hayes’ USWNT staff, Ward described how the international set-up is doing brilliantly to support motherhood in training. “When you’re in the international lineup, you pretty much have everything exactly like you would every day,” Ward said.
The manager said 90 min that she “would like to do international coaching”, which is why her move to Ireland should have been expected. She is not the first coach to make the transition from club to state, as Emma Hayes, Tanya Oxtoby and Casey Stoney all did so last year.
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