John O'Shea Confirms Coaching Roles, No Change in Structure

John O’Shea, Republic of Ireland assistant coach has clarified that the team’s coaching structure remains clear and straightforward. O’Shea, who briefly served as interim manager during the search for Stephen Kenny’s successor, accepted the assistant role when Heimir Hallgrimsson took over. Although O’Shea had expressed interest in becoming head coach, he transitioned to the number two role seamlessly upon Hallgrimsson’s appointment in August.

After Ireland’s 2-0 Nations League defeat to England under Hallgrimsson, O’Shea addressed the media ahead of Tuesday’s game against Greece, assuming a role typically reserved for the manager. He explained that this arrangement followed a pre-established plan to give Hallgrimsson sufficient preparation time. “The boss is the boss,” O’Shea stated, affirming that the coaching hierarchy had not changed.

He assured that Hallgrimsson’s absence from the media conference was part of the planned structure and emphasized that the hierarchy remained intact. During the media session, John O’Shea and goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher faced repeated questions about the coaching roles. O’Shea reaffirmed his role as assistant, saying, “It’s not a leading role, I’m the assistant.

The leader is the boss and that is clear.” He expressed frustration over persistent questions about the coaching structure and confirmed that both the staff and players understood the hierarchy and the plans in place. Regarding the recent match, O’Shea acknowledged England’s superiority as Declan Rice and Jack Grealish secured their victory.

Despite the loss, O’Shea looked ahead to the upcoming game against Greece, recognizing the challenge posed by a team recently in the Euros final. He welcomed the chance to quickly improve and deliver a better performance at the Aviva Stadium.