FAI decide not to extend Vera Pauw's contract

Vera Pauw’s four-year stint as head coach of the Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team is set to end.

A six-hour long meeting in Abbottstown last night concluded in the FAI deciding not to extend her contract, which runs out at the end of the month.

The Dutch national, appointed in 2019, was at the helm for the Girls in Green’s first major tournament at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand this summer.

During the meeting at the FAI headquarters, the board considered an internal review on both the qualifying round for the World Cup as well as Ireland’s group stage exit from the competition itself.

“At the meeting of the FAI Board, the Board has decided that Ireland Women’s National Team Manager Vera Pauw will not be offered a new contract after the expiry of her current contract at the end of this month,” a statement on Tuesday night read.

The FAI now have four weeks before the team's next competitive match to find a new manager, a historic clash with Northern Ireland in the Aviva on 23 stadium.

Important to recognise Vera Pauw’s achievements with the Irish team but important to move on.

Huge game in Lansdowne Road on September 23rd which deserves a huge crowd.

The potential for the current crop of players is limitless. Time to invest in the future.#COYGIG

— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) August 29, 2023

The build-up to Ireland’s World Cup campaign was marred by allegations made against Pauw at the end of last year. The coach was accused of misconduct in America’s National Women’s Soccer League, which included claims that she tried to control players’ eating habits.

Pauw fiercely denied these claims in an interview with Hot Press before the World Cup.

“No, but others said I should sit in a corner and do nothing, and it would all blow over. No way! The views I have held in my life and now these stories being told, by one or two players, just lies – and nobody’s running my story!" she told Stuart Clark.

Read the exclusive interview in full here.

Can’t help feeling that Vera Pauw has been treated poorly.
Pauw lead this group to a World Cup and performed well.
Big part of the transformation of Women’s Football and next manager takes over a really strong squad.
Although new manager will have to be careful of some players. pic.twitter.com/v8KkFmdlce

— Chris Andrews TD #savemasaferyatta (@chrisandrews64) August 30, 2023