Gus Poyet Rejects Reported Republic of Ireland Offer

Gus Poyet's future is uncertain after he reportedly turned down a five-year contract offer to manage the Republic of Ireland.

Poyet's contract with Greece expires on March 31st, and his team was recently eliminated from the Euro 2024 playoffs by Georgia on penalties. According to reports in Greece, the FAI offered Poyet a five-year contract with a 48-hour deadline to accept.

Adding to the intrigue, Poyet's rejection of Ireland's offer comes as he awaits news on a contract extension with the Greek National Team.

Before leaving Tbilisi, the Greek players reportedly expressed their desire for Poyet to continue managing the team. Poyet, 56, led Greece to wins over Ireland in both home and away games during the Euro 2024 qualifiers. Notably, after the 2-0 victory in Dublin last October, Poyet praised the Irish supporters and expressed his interest in returning to manage the Irish team.

The FAI previously stated they have a new manager lined up, but due to existing contract obligations, the appointment cannot be finalized until April. If Poyet was indeed the FAI's preferred choice, his rejection could prolong the uncertainty surrounding Stephen Kenny's successor. Willy Sagnol, who recently led Georgia to their first-ever Euro finals appearance, has also been linked with the vacant Irish manager position.