Gus Poyet, the former manager of the Greek national team, has confirmed that he will not be taking over as the manager of the Republic of Ireland. He stated that there is “absolutely nothing” going on between him and Greece, as his contract with the team ended on March 31. Poyet led Greece to win their Nations League group, earning them promotion to League B and a place in the Euro 2024 play-offs. Despite beating Ireland twice in the European championships’ qualifying stage, Greece finished third in Group B behind France and the Netherlands.
Reports suggest that the Republic of Ireland has been interested in Poyet since Stephen Kenny’s departure in November. The Football Association of Ireland was looking to take advantage of Poyet’s contract length, which ran out before Euro 2024. However, Poyet has dismissed these reports, stating that a deal between him and Ireland is “not gonna happen” and that the links were baseless, similar to other big names being linked to the job.
Poyet explained that he has experienced similar situations in the past, where his name was linked to clubs or teams without any truth behind the rumors. He compared it to when many people from England contacted him asking if he was going to manage Plymouth. Poyet emphasized that there is no possibility of him managing Ireland and that there has been no communication with the Greek football federation regarding a new contract.
Currently, Poyet is a free agent and is open to meeting people, analyzing football, and exploring different possibilities. While there are no offers on the table at the moment, he remains optimistic and continues to engage in discussions about potential opportunities. However, he reiterated that there is absolutely nothing happening with Greece at this time.
Overall, Poyet’s confirmation that he will not be taking over as Republic of Ireland manager and his assertion that there is no ongoing relationship with Greece sheds light on the current state of his managerial career. As a free agent, he remains open to new opportunities and is actively exploring options in the football world.