The Top Flight
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Former Premier League legend in line for the Republic of Ireland job

By Phil Taylor

10 Apr 2000: Gustavo Poyet celebrates for Chelsea during the AXA sponsored FA Cup Semi Final against Newcastle United played at Wembley Stadium in London. Chelsea won the game 2-1 and progress to the FA Cup Final on the 20th of May. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport
10 Apr 2000: Gustavo Poyet celebrates for Chelsea during the AXA sponsored FA Cup Semi Final against Newcastle United played at Wembley Stadium in London. Chelsea won the game 2-1 and progress to the FA Cup Final on the 20th of May. Mandatory Credit: Shaun Botterill /Allsport /
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The Premier League has been host to manage legends and amongst them is the South American Gus Poyet. The tough-tackling midfielder played 186 games in the Premier League for London clubs Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur respectively and scored 54 times. It now looks like he is set to become the Republic of Ireland manager amidst rumours that his future is not likely to extend past 2024 with Greece.

How has Poyet done with Greece?

With experience of managing clubs such as Brighton & Hove Albion in League One and Sunderland in the Premier League, Poyet is currently the manager of the Greece national team.

As an international manager, Poyet guided Greece to the next league in the Nations League as they were promoted from Group C to Group B following the influence of Poyet’s arrival. Greece only lost one game in the league and finished above Kosovo, Northern Ireland and Cyprus.

With one game left against France, Greece are already assured a playoff place to qualify for the European Championships in Germany. However, it is likely Poyet will not be continuing after the playoff game is played.

His contract ends in March regardless and there is no talk of an extension as of yet. Poyet stated, “If you talk too much, they blame you but I’m trying to be honest. My contract finishes in March. So, finish the [Euro 2024] play-off games and it’s over. It doesn’t matter if I qualify or not because there is no extension.”

Why Ireland?

Poyet has alluded to the fact he could be looking for a new challenge and with Ireland’s 2024 qualification hopes in tatters, he might be looking for a new challenge with The Boys in Green. The current manager Stephen Kenny has struggled to get a tune out of these players and his position is under threat.

The former Chelsea man was incredibly impressed with the Irish support following the 2-0 win for Greece last month and complimented them massively calling them “spectacular”.

With 10 wins in his 18 games in charge, Poyet would certainly bring an air understanding and ability to win that has been missing from the Irish team for some time.

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