Gary Cronin: New Ireland Women’s Assistant Manager Prepares for World Cup Qualifiers
The Republic of Ireland women’s national team is preparing for a challenging stretch of World Cup qualifying matches and new assistant coach Gary Cronin is diving straight into the thick of it. Appointed by head coach Carla Ward in , Cronin is tasked with helping Ireland navigate a tough Group A2 that includes France, the Netherlands, and Poland.
Cronin, 46, secured the position after a competitive process, beating out over 200 applicants to develop into Ward’s deputy following Alan Mahon’s departure last December. His last full-time managerial role was as assistant to Declan Devine at Bohemians, a position he held until . The transition back to full-time football, after a period away from the game following his time with Bohs, is something he readily acknowledges.
“It just so happened to be in the men’s game,” Cronin explained at FAI HQ. “It’s only when I left Bohs did I have a break in football for any length of time… I would have been 45, I think. Since I’ve been 18 to that age, I’ve been constantly in football.”
Despite his extensive experience in the men’s game, Cronin is keen to downplay any significant differences in approach. He emphasized the elite level of competition as the primary draw. “It’s elite sport, their top-level internationals – and that’s the attraction for me,” he said. “The gender part of it never really came into it for me.” He has been actively familiarizing himself with the women’s game, attending matches in the UK and focusing on the League of Ireland Women’s Premier Division.
Ward has been publicly supportive of Cronin’s appointment, praising his attention to detail, positive energy, and ability to extract the best from players. Cronin, in turn, has expressed his admiration for Ward’s coaching style. “I done a lot of research obviously around Carla, her as a head coach, I was really impressed about what I found,” he stated.
The immediate challenge is significant: back-to-back World Cup qualifiers against France and the Netherlands in . Ireland will first host France on , followed by a trip to the Netherlands four days later. These matches will be a crucial test for Ward’s side, who recently achieved promotion to League A in the UEFA Nations League.
Cronin acknowledges the intensity of the upcoming schedule. He jokingly admitted to being consumed by preparation, stating that the opposing teams “are in my dreams at this stage.” Though, his primary focus remains on the ultimate goal: qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The appointment hasn’t been without echoes of past controversies within the Ireland setup. Last year, debate surrounded the departures of Colin Healy and Eileen Gleeson, with Healy claiming assurances from the FAI regarding his position regardless of the Euro 2025 play-off result against Wales. Cronin, however, downplayed any concerns about a similar situation arising.
“For me, it’s in the past,” he said. He highlighted his positive working relationship with Healy during their time as opposing managers in the SSE Airtricity Men’s First Division, noting their “really, really good tactical battles.” He added, “I was delighted to see Colin in the role at that time because Irish coaches from the League of Ireland I’d be an advocate of.” He intends to reach out to Healy after the current camp to share experiences and seek his insights.
Cronin hasn’t yet sought advice from Healy but plans to do so after the camp. “There are certain coaches I will speak to after camp when I have experiences I can share with them. I do actually plan on Colin being one of those to bounce off.”
The new role has already generated excitement beyond the professional sphere, with Cronin noting the enthusiastic support of his daughters. “I have two sons as well, but the two girls have especially taken to the role I’m taking,” he shared. “I have their friends when I pick them up from school, they give me high-fives and all which is great. One of them asked me to keep her place now for the next six years, produce sure I have a place for her. I said, ‘I’ll talk to the manager about that for you’.”
Ireland’s match against France on will be broadcast on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, with live commentary also available on RTÉ Radio 1.