Rob Page’s tenure as the Wales manager was a mix of highs and lows. Despite his limited coaching experience, Page successfully guided Wales to the Euro 2020 tournament, where they reached the knockout stages. However, their journey ended with a devastating 4-0 loss to Denmark.
Following the departure of Ryan Giggs due to off-field issues, Page took over as caretaker manager and impressed the players with his continuity-focused approach. He secured promotion to the Nations League’s top flight and eventually got the job on a permanent basis.
Wales’ play-off success against Austria and Ukraine saw them qualify for the 2022 World Cup, but their performance in Qatar was underwhelming. Page was criticized for his tactics, and Wales suffered a 2-0 defeat against Iran, followed by a 3-0 loss to England.
Despite these setbacks, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) initially expressed confidence in Page, citing his previous achievements and popularity among the players. However, his coaching staff underwent changes, and key players like Gareth Bale, Joe Allen, and Chris Gunter retired from international football.
The turning point came with a humiliating 4-2 defeat at home to Armenia, which sparked fierce criticism towards Page. Fans and pundits questioned Wales’ performance levels, and there were concerns about their chances of qualifying for Euro 2024. Assistant coach Eric Ramsay left, further adding to the instability within the team.
The FAW’s reluctance to make a managerial change mid-campaign was one reason for Page’s continued presence. Another factor was their limited budget, which restricted their options for a successor. However, tensions between Page and FAW chief executive Noel Mooney escalated after Mooney’s comments about needing to win games to keep his job.
Wales’ victory over Croatia briefly revived their hopes of automatic qualification for Euro 2024. However, draws against Armenia and Turkey dashed those hopes, leaving Wales with a chance to qualify via the play-offs. Unfortunately, they lost their final match against Poland on penalties.
FAW president Steve Williams publicly declared that Page would keep his job, but the statement surprised others within the association. The following friendly matches against Gibraltar and Slovakia only intensified the calls for Page’s sacking. The fans’ anger was palpable, and Page himself admitted to feeling low and understanding why the fans wanted him out.
After days of deliberation, the FAW finally made their decision to part ways with Page. It was a bittersweet end to his historic reign, as he had led Wales to their first World Cup in 64 years. Attention now turns to finding a suitable successor, as football moves on quickly.
In conclusion, Rob Page’s time as Wales manager was characterized by a mixture of success and disappointment. Despite his initial popularity and achievements, the team’s performance in recent matches, coupled with growing fan dissatisfaction, led to his departure. The FAW will now have the task of finding a new manager who can build upon the progress made by Page and guide Wales to further success.