Republic boss Stephen Kenny out to fulfil ‘big ambition’ and reach Euro 2024

Stephen Kenny has targeted the “big dream” of qualifying for the 2024 European Championship finals so Republic of Ireland fans can relive one of the greatest moments in their history.

Republic manager Kenny signed a fresh deal on Wednesday that runs until Euro 2024, with his assistant Keith Andrews and coaches Dean Kiely, Stephen Rice and Damien Doyle also receiving new contracts to join him on that journey.

And it has not escaped Kenny’s attention that Euro 2024 is being held in Germany, where the Republic’s first appearance at a major tournament came at the 1988 European Championships.

Jack Charlton’s side memorably marked the occasion by beating England 1-0 in Stuttgart through a Ray Houghton header.

“The ambition is obviously to go to Germany and qualify for the European Championships,” said Kenny.

“I realise it’s a big ambition, a big dream, to go back to where Ireland started in the European Championships.

“But we want to go back to Germany, if it’s Stuttgart or wherever.

“That’s the big dream for Ireland and no stone will be left unturned attempting to do that. We have to do everything to get there with this team.”

Kenny had a difficult start to his reign after succeeding Mick McCarthy in April 2020, failing to win any of his first 11 matches.

But the Republic have since recorded four victories in nine games, with their only defeat coming in painful last-gasp fashion against Portugal.

Kenny said: “We have rebuilt the team and the support has really connected with the players. It’s been a radical change really.

We have rebuilt the team and the support has really connected with the players- Stephen Kenny

“We’ve brought 15 players through our own system over the last year or so, which is quite a radical shift.

“The