Heimir Hallgrimsson has been appointed as the new head coach of the Republic of Ireland.
The former Iceland and Jamaica coach replaces interim manager John O’Shea, who took charge following Stephen Kenny’s departure in November.
Here, we pick out five things you may not know about Icelander Hallgrimsson.
Helped humiliate England
Hallgrimsson was joint manager of Iceland, alongside Swede Lars Lagerback, when they embarrassed England at Euro 2016. The smallest nation to grace a major tournament came from behind to win the last-16 tie 2-1 as Roy Hodgson’s reign as England boss ended in ignominious fashion in Nice. Hallgrimsson has another chance to upset England as his first fixture with Ireland will be a Nations League meeting on September 7th in Dublin.
A qualified dentist
Landed in Ireland: 11.30am
Photo-shoot in a (secret) location: 12.30pm
First FAI TV Interview: 1pm
Announced: 3pm
Quite the day for our new MNT Head Coach Heimir Hallgrímsson 😅🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/IpAagdwy5C— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 10, 2024
Hodgson is unlikely to be the only person to have had an uncomfortable experience at the hands of Hallgrimsson. The 57-year-old is a qualified dentist and has combined his football career with running a dental practice on the volcanic island of Heimaey in his homeland. “Some coaches play golf or do hiking or whatever, I do dentistry,” he said earlier this year. “I always like to have my hands and head occupied.”
Has rubbed shoulders with Usain Bolt
Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Bolt was regularly in attendance at matches during Hallgrimsson’s two-year stint in charge of Jamaica. That role, which included managing Premier League players Michail Antonio and Bobby Decordova-Reid, came to an end following three defeats in the group stage of the ongoing Copa America. Speaking of former sprinter Bolt, Hallgrimsson said: “He’s a good guy. A typical Jamaican, very laid back.”
Maiden managerial trip to Ireland was not memorable
A message from our new Men's National Team Head Coach 👋🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/tDRz3KwSpS
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) July 10, 2024
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Just before joining his country’s national team, initially as assistant coach, Hallgrimsson endured an unhappy trip to Dublin in July 2011 while in charge of Icelandic club IBV. His side had won the first leg of the Europa League first-round qualifier against St Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 in Reykjavik. But his maiden match as a manager on Irish soil ended in a 2-0 defeat to Pete Mahon’s men at Richmond Park, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate exit.
Happy to talk tactics at the pub
1st #WorldCup match. ✅
1st goal. ✅
1st penalty save. ✅
1st point. ✅
FT: #ARG 1-1 #ISL pic.twitter.com/QyMeTWaQrh— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) June 16, 2018
During his earlier days with Iceland, Hallgrimsson, who led his nation to World Cup qualification for the first time in 2018, was eager to have a closer connection with fans. According to The New York Times, he therefore invited fans to meet him at a pub to unveil the starting line-up for the next match and discuss the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses. He turned the initial meeting into a tradition. “I would like to give them ownership in what we are doing,” said Hallgrimsson. “A small nation can’t make it with just one guy.”
