Former head coach of the New Zealand men’s national team Anthony Hudson has re-emerged as a contender for the vacant Republic of Ireland manager’s job.
Football writer Michael Walker of The Irish Times reports Hudson (43) appears to be on the shortlist of names under consideration by FAI’s director of football Marc Canham and the national body’s board.
“He is not thought to be the preferred choice for Ireland as things stand, but with the situation fluid, remains an option the FAI could turn to,” Walker writes.
Others on the shortlist are reportedly Willy Sagnol, Slaven Bilic, Chris Hughton and interim manager John O’Shea.
Main photo: Anthony Hudson … a free agent since leaving Qatar Super League club Al-Markyla.
Former French international Sagnol has led Georgia to the European Championships in Germany; Bilic has been with Saudi Arabia Pro League club Al-Fateh; Hughton left his role as head coach of Ghana in January 2024.
In February 2024, Hudson was reportedly turned down for the Republic of Ireland manager’s job which has been vacant since the departure of Stephen Kenny in late 2023.
READ MORE: Former All Whites coach Anthony Hudson ‘turned down for Ireland job’ >>>>
In April 2024, Hudson parted ways with Qatar Super League club Al-Markyla “by mutual consent” less than halfway through his two-year contract, becoming a free agent.
Hudson was the head coach of the New Zealand national team from 2014-2017 after three years coaching the Bahrain national team and its U-23 side.
When he left the New Zealand role, Hudson managed MLS side Colorado Rapids, before he became the United States U-20 head coach in 2020.
He became an assistant to Gregg Berhalter with the full US squad in 2021.
He was appointed as the interim head coach of the United States side when Berhalter was suspended for an internal investigation but left the role in June 2023 for the Qatar job.
Since leaving Al-Markyla, Hudson has been working as a pundit/analyst for ALKASS Sports and for beIN Sports football channels.
This story was first published in June 2024.
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