Six weeks ago Martin O’Neill was in no rush to commit himself to the FAI.
Back in April the Republic of Ireland manager was happy to make a decision on his future once the Republic of Ireland’s involvement in Euro 2016 was over.
“I’m just too long in this game to know that you can’t make strong assumptions without the competition being finished,” said O’Neill.
“If you sat down and said after we qualified ‘do you deserve it’? Absolutely. But we’re coming in now to a new competition and you are judged again and that’s right because that is the name of this game.
“You are judged again on the next couple of matches. I don’t want to be sitting down here with a great contentment we have done something — and then find out that I’m flummoxed.”
What changed?
The FAI announced on Tuesday that O’Neill and his management team of Roy Keane, Steve Walford, Steve Guppy and Seamus McDonagh are staying on until the end of the 2018 World Cup campaign.
On the day when Ronald Koeman’s move to Everton was confirmed, O’Neill committed himself to another two years in international football.
“Now that we’ve got to this stage, let’s wait and see,” said O’Neill of his situation on Sunday.
“I am delighted that John Delaney and the FAI Board have extended our contracts for the World Cup campaign,” said O’Neill on Tuesday.
What a difference a day makes.
Over the weekend – when he was also fending off accusations of homophobia – the 64-year-old was poo-pooing the idea that this would be his final job in management. O’Neill was talking like a man gearing up for another tilt at the Premier League. Now he has agreed to have his hands tied, like Giovanni Trapattoni did four years ago.
In November 2011 the FAI agreed a two-year extension with the Italian to take him through the 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign – the extension kicking in from July 2012.
By then Ireland had crashed out of Euro 2012 with the worst record of any finalist in history, senior players were retiring exasperated and, in hindsight, we can see the whole squad was jaded and had become immune to Trapattoni’s methods. Even allergic.
That lacklustre qualifying campaign was haunted by the Trapattoni question and his departure after a 1-0 defeat to Austria back in September 2013 was like an exorcism.
While there are no suggestions that this Ireland squad are fed up of the Martin and Roy show but, a fortnight is a long time in football and, with the oldest squad in France, the next World Cup campaign will have to involve a good deal of rebuilding.
Will all parties be happy with their lot, regardless of what happens this month?
The FAI are not alone in making themselves hostages (or parties) to fortune. The IRFU have been known to give Ireland rugby coaches contracts that they have come to regret – both Eddie O’Sullivan and Declan Kidney were rewarded with long-term contracts that seemed like folly before their terms ended.
It was thought both O’Neill and Keane would use the European Championships as a shop window in which to flaunt their wares. Maybe a Premier League club would come calling and they would be able to return to the daily grind of club management.
A week that started with 2-1 defeat to Belarus and shock-free squad announcement, picked up pace with a vintage, excoriating Keane rant and an apology following accusations of homophobia, has come full circle with some housekeeping that, while long-expected, has shocked with its timing.
Meanwhile Zlatan Ibrahimovic is launching his clothing range and laughing at questions about Manchester United.
Ireland and major tournaments. It is rarely dull.
