Global InformationRepublic of Ireland national football team information
 | |||
| Nickname(s) | The Boys in Green (Irish: Na buachaillí i nglas) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Football Association of Ireland (FAI) | ||
| Confederation | UEFA (Europe) | ||
| Head coach | Vacant | ||
| Captain | Séamus Coleman | ||
| Most caps | Robbie Keane (146) | ||
| Top scorer | Robbie Keane (68) | ||
| Home stadium | Aviva Stadium | ||
| FIFA code | IRL | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 60  2 (4 April 2024)[1] | ||
| Highest | 6 (August 1993) | ||
| Lowest | 70 (June–July 2014) | ||
| First international | |||
 Irish Free State 1–0 Bulgaria  (Colombes, France; 28 May 1924) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Republic of Ireland 8–0 Malta  (Dublin, Ireland; 16 November 1983) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Brazil 7–0 Republic of Ireland (Uberlândia, Brazil; 27 May 1982) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1990) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (1990) | ||
| European Championship | |||
| Appearances | 3 (first in 1988) | ||
| Best result | Round of 16 (2016) | ||
| Website | fai.ie | ||
The Republic of Ireland national football team (Irish: Foireann peile náisiúnta Phoblacht na hÉireann) represents the Republic of Ireland in men's international football. It is governed by the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
The team made their debut at the 1924 Summer Olympics, reaching the quarter-finals. Between 1924 and 1936, the team competed as the Irish Free State and from then until 1950, it was referred to by the FAI as Éire or Ireland. During the same period, another Ireland team also existed; this was overseen by the Irish Football Association (IFA) and had previously been the sole national team for the entire island of Ireland. In 1953, FIFA decreed that for competitive matches in tournaments that both Irish teams could enter, the FAI team would be officially called Republic of Ireland while the IFA team was to be named Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland was allowed to keep using the title Ireland by FIFA in the British Home Championship (which was discontinued in 1984). The Republic of Ireland was the first nation from outside the United Kingdom to defeat England at home, in a fixture played at Goodison Park, Liverpool, in 1949. The team reached the quarter-final stage of the 1964 European Nations' Cup, where they lost to the eventual champions Spain.
Under the guidance of Jack Charlton, the team enjoyed their most successful era, reaching their highest FIFA world ranking ever at sixth in August 1993, and qualifying for UEFA Euro 1988 in their first appearance at the UEFA European Championship, reaching the quarter-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in their first ever appearance at the finals, as well as making the last 16 at the 1994 edition. Charlton's successor Mick McCarthy lost out on the next two major tournaments but ultimately qualified for the 2002 World Cup, making it to the last 16, a feat repeated at the 2016 Euros by manager Martin O'Neill.
The team's home stadium is the Aviva Stadium, in Dublin, although some of their home games have been played in other stadiums across the country. Their traditional colours are green shirts and white shorts. The position of manager is currently vacant after the contract of Stephen Kenny was not renewed at the end of 2023; former Irish international John O'Shea is coaching the team currently on an interim basis.[3][4] Séamus Coleman has served as team captain since 2016.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
- ^ Media, P. A. (22 November 2023). "Stephen Kenny to leave Republic of Ireland job after Euro 2024 flop". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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