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Oct 8 : Ireland women's manager Carla Ward said she remained "obsessed" with reaching next year's World Cup and would not allow media speculation linking her with a return to Aston Villa to distract her from the playoffs.
It was a summer of upheaval for over half of the Republic of Ireland squad currently limbering up in Astana for the first leg of their World Cup qualifying playoff against Kazakhstan on Friday.
It’s unlikely a trip from Sydney to Astana was on Stephen Neligan’s bingo card last week, but for a man who once worked in a sewage treatment plant and ended up as assistant manager of Everton’s women’s team, career swerves are nothing new.
Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland side will play Kazakhstan in the first leg of their Women’s World Cup qualifying first-round playoff on Friday.
Carla Ward’s day began with a chat with Heimir Hallgrímsson over breakfast, the pair having become good friends since being appointed head coaches of the Republic of Ireland women’s and men’s teams within six months of each other. Ward didn’t divulge what was said about Hallgrímsson’s trying spell, but considering she is having her own challenges, there was no doubt plenty to discuss.
Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft is the surprise inclusion in Carla Ward’s Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying play-off against Kazakhstan. The 28-year-old qualifies for Ireland through her grandmother Nora Hopcroft, a native of Tubbercurry, Co Sligo.
Crystal Palace midfielder Shanade Hopcroft is a surprise inclusion in Carla Ward's Ireland squad for the World Cup play-off semi-final against Kazakhstan.
Former Everton Women manager Brian Sorensen is the new assistant coach for the Ireland WNT and will take up the role ahead of the World Cup Qualifying Play-Off games.