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| Tuesday, November 5, 2002 17:31 EST |
McCarthy steps down as coach
[Reuters]
DUBLIN, Ireland -- Mick McCarthy resigned as Ireland
manager on Tuesday after 6½ years in the job.
McCarthy said he could walk away "with my head held high"
but the English-born coach conceded his controversial bust-up
with former captain Roy Keane had affected his position.
Keane was sent home on the eve of this year's World Cup
finals after a row with McCarthy, and the Manchester United
midfielder has been in international exile ever since.
McCarthy was praised for guiding Ireland to the second round
of the tournament in June, but his side lost its opening two
Euro 2004 qualifiers and critics demanded Keane's return at
McCarthy's expense.
"Certain circumstances began to affect team performance and
I could not allow that to carry on," McCarthy told a news
conference.
"It was for the good of myself as well.
"I spoke to some of the players and I know they didn't enjoy
our last game (a 2-1 home defeat to Switzerland), or the
atmosphere surrounding it.
"But I feel no sense of betrayal. It was my decision, the
right decision, and I can walk away with my head held high and
my chest out."
FAI President Milo Corcoran paid tribute to McCarthy,
saying: "Mick's tenure should be judged on the excellent results
achieved during his period as manager.
"He has taken the Irish team to 14th in the world and his
results over a period of almost seven years speak volumes for
his abilities as a manager."
Media reports said McCarthy, who won 29 and lost 20 of 68
internationals in charge, had negotiated a compensation package
with the FAI.
The 43-year-old said he was disappointed to be leaving with
Ireland joint bottom of its Euro 2004 qualifying group after
losing to Russia as well as Switzerland.
McCarthy added that he felt he had made the right decision
not to quit after the World Cup, when the team was only denied a
place in the last eight by defeat to Spain on penalties.
"If I have just one regret, it is that we have no points on
the table," he said.
"But we were welcomed back from the World Cup by around
100,000 people (at Dublin airport) and they will still hold
myself and the team in high esteem.
"We had a brilliant World Cup and I honestly felt we could
continue the success and get to Euro 2004. It's not materialized
like that.
"Only with the benefit of hindsight, maybe it would have
been better to (leave after the World Cup)."
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern expressed regret at
McCarthy's departure.
"I'm sorry to see him go -- he did a good job," Ahern said.
"I hope he gets a job in the (English) premiership and I wish
him well for the future."
Irish under-21 team manager Don Givens will take charge in a
caretaker capacity for Ireland's next match, a friendly away to
Greece later this month.
British bookmakers installed ex-Liverpool striker John
Aldridge as favorite to succeed McCarthy, with former Ireland
defender Joe Kinnear heavily backed with Irish bookmakers.
Former Real Madrid coach John Toshack was also quoted, while
another possible candidate, David O'Leary, has ruled himself out
of the running according to Sky Sports.
Keane's supporters will hope McCarthy's exit will enable the
Manchester United midfielder to resume his international career.
"There has never been anything to suggest that Roy will not
play for his country," Eamon Dunphy, Keane's biographer, told
Sky Sports.
"He has never had a difficulty with any other manager in a
long and distinguished career."
McCarthy himself covets a return to English club management
and has been linked with several posts in recent months.
Although his action over Keane divided a nation, McCarthy
will retain pockets of affection in Ireland.
The winner of 57 caps, he captained the 1990 side that
achieved Ireland's best-ever showing at a major championship
when the team reached the World Cup quarterfinals in Italy.
After learning the management trade with Millwall, McCarthy
succeeded Jack Charlton as Ireland boss in 1996.
Despite a good record under McCarthy, the Irish failed to
qualify for the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European
championship -- twice losing out in the qualification playoffs.
But McCarthy was lauded after Ireland finished behind
Portugal and ahead of the Netherlands to reach South Korea and
Japan this year via a two-leg playoff win over Iran.
There was also pride to be taken from Ireland's run to the
second round, and midfielder Jason McAteer said he was upset by
McCarthy's decision to leave.
"I am shocked," McAteer said.
"It's a sad day for Irish football. Mick got us to a World
Cup and the Ireland set-up is the healthiest it's been for
years."
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