Mary Hannigan: Marc Canham’s time at FAI marred by own goals and pipedreams

More than 12 months went by after Marc Canham’s appointment as the Football Association of Ireland’s director of football before he held an on-the-record briefing with the media. There were times over the following two years that he must have wished he’d maintained radio silence, so often were seemingly positive announcements overshadowed by controversy.

When he launched his ambitious Player Pathways Programme in February 2024, the bulk of the questions directed at him were, understandably enough, about the then three-month search for a successor to Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager.

Canham vowed there would be an appointment by early April, but April came and went. He apologised, and publicly asked John O’Shea to remain in his role as interim manager - without actually checking with O’Shea first to see if he would be free to do so or if he planned on takin...
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