The 42

FORMER IRELAND MANAGER Eileen Gleeson is set to be appointed to a new role in the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

The 42 understands an announcement regarding the Gleeson is in the process of being finalised.

It is not believed to be her previous post as FAI head of women and girls’ football, which was vacated by Hannah Dingley in May, but is understood to be a new development role with an emphasis on strategy.

Dingley filled the void left by Gleeson after she was appointed permanent head coach of the senior women’s international team in December 2023.

Gleeson had been in interim charge in the wake of Vera Pauw’s exit, and landed the managerial job after a successful Nations League campaign.

The FAI decided not to offer Gleeson a new contract as Ireland head coach following their failure to qualify for Euro 2025 last December, but she is understood to have remained employed by the Association and sources indicate she has been a more visible presence at Abbotstown headquarters in recent days.

The Dubliner is believed to have negotiated a clause in her contract as national team head coach that entitled her to return to a staff position with the FAI when her tenure as head coach came to an end. 

Departing chief football officer Marc Canham and chief executive officer David Courell sidestepped that issue in recent media interviews.

Former Peamount United, UCD Waves and Glasgow City manager Gleeson was originally appointed head of women and girls’ football in January 2023. She previously served as Pauw’s assistant coach. 

Gleeson was part of a FAI delegation attending Athlone Town’s Women’s Champions League qualifier at home to Cardiff City tonight.

Additional reporting by David Sneyd

Written by Emma Duffy and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won’t find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women’s sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here.