Irish footballing legend Brian Kerr has claimed that the FAI's handling of his departure as the then-Ireland boss in 2005 lacked class.
Dublin native Kerr led the Republic of Ireland U16, U18, and U20 teams between 1997 and 2003. At the 1997 World Youth Championships, Ireland finished third.
The following year, Kerr guided two of the Irish underage sides to an unprecedented double by winning both the under-16 and under-18 European Championships.
Shortly after his stint with the underage sides, Kerr took the Ireland senior job after Mick McCarthy. Ireland's 2004 European Championship qualification began with defeats, but they rebounded with victories against Georgia and Albania. However, Ireland did not make it to Euro 2024, and he was eventually replaced by Steve Staunton, a decision made by former FAI CEO John Delaney.
Since leaving the Ireland job, Kerr has appeared as a media pundit on various Irish channels and hasn't been afraid to voice his opinion on the Ireland team.
Fast forward to 2024. In recent times, Kerr has managed to find his way back into the Ireland frame and has been appointed as a temporary technical advisor to interim Ireland manager John O'Shea for the home friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland this month.
The outspoken Kerr has revealed this week that his sacking in 2005, when he was the Ireland manager, was not nice.
“The way I finished (in 2005) wasn’t very nice. It wasn’t very nice to get a letter in the mail after working for them for eight or nine years," he said.
“You get a letter in the mail saying they decided not to renew your contract and would you send us the money you owe us for tickets and give us back the computer, the car, the phones and any paperwork belonging to us?"
Dublin , Ireland, March 25, 2024: Technical advisor Brian Kerr during a Republic of Ireland training session at FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. (Photo By Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)Last month, former Chelsea and Ireland player Damien Duff also slammed the FAI for the way they sacked Kerr all those years ago.
"It was terrible, but it doesn't surprise me. He's a football god in this country, and I've said it many times," he claimed.
"The way he was treated was, and is, a disgrace, so that will never be erased. He was treated badly, but he's back for the foreseeable future."
"His knowledge of the game, his knowledge of Irish football, his passion for Irish football... people come and go in the FAI, but nobody will ever touch Brian."
Kerr is of the same thought process and believes that removing someone who was involved in the Irish football setup for decades like that, and the way it was handled, was lacking in class at the end of the day.
“It lacked class, and it disappointed me at the time because I had done my bit, firstly as a volunteer with Liam Tuohy in the 80s, then as an employee."
“How they handled it was just poor. But anyway, I have enjoyed this period, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with the international team again and with those players."
However, Kerr has been delighted to be back in the Ireland setup and admits he has enjoyed his time with the modern-day Ireland squad.
“They’re a lovely group of lads. They made me feel very welcome, and they were very open to any bits of advice I had to give them. I’ve really enjoyed their company."
“Irish people can be proud of them. Their parents and their clubs: they really are a very impressive group of lads."
