The first two matches of Ireland's qualification campaign for the
2004 European Championships in Portugal ended in defeat. The first was a 4–2 reverse away to Russia and the second a damaging 2–1 defeat at home to Switzerland.
Mick McCarthy,
who several months previously had taken the team to the knock-out stages of the
2002 World Cup, came under mounting pressure from fans and pundits alike and he resigned on 5 November 2002. The Football Association of Ireland's (FAI) search for a successor took them past
Peter Reid,
Bryan Robson and
Philippe Troussier and eventually led them to Kerr who was officially unveiled as Republic of Ireland manager on 26 January 2003. Despite the somewhat haphazard nature of his appointment (several leaks meant that most media outlets had been alerted as to the FAI's decision days in advance of the official announcement and Troussier was only notified of his failure to land the post after a member of the public phoned him to commiserate), and also had no connection to the
Saipan controversy that had engulfed the Irish team at the previous year's World Cup which raised the possibility of a return to the squad for the talismanic
Manchester United midfielder
Roy Keane. Despite the positivity of his appointment, there were some who voiced doubts about his ability to manage at senior level. No serious injuries were incurred and Ireland's campaign had its first win. Five days later the side travelled to Tirana to meet an Albania side that, although they had just recorded a historic win against group leaders Russia, were considered beatable opponents. In a game of few chances, Ireland failed to build on the momentum generated by the Georgia result and the game finished 0–0. On 7 June 2003, in Kerr's first competitive home match, Ireland welcomed Albania in the return fixture. Ireland secured a 2–1 win thanks to an injury time own goal from Albania's veteran defender
Adrian Aliaj but they were deemed fortunate to emerge as winners given that Albania appeared the more technically accomplished side with their midfield often outnumbering that of the visitors. Nevertheless, the three points were Ireland's and after Switzerland and Russia drew their match in Basel there was renewed optimism that Ireland could qualify and even top the group. Further evidence that Kerr was initiating a remarkable turnaround in form was provided by the 2–0 victory over Georgia at Lansdowne Road on 11 June 2003. Even though the team were deprived of star player Damien Duff through injury, Ireland turned in an aggressive and compact performance based on thwarting the away side's more technical style and ensured victory via goals from
Gary Doherty and Robbie Keane. Russia remained in pole position in the group but Ireland now had 10 points out of 12 under Kerr and had given themselves a fair chance of qualifying if positive results could be gained from the upcoming ties. Russia arrived in Dublin for the 6 September clash with three points fewer than Ireland but with a game in hand. Anything less than a victory would be a serious blow to Ireland's qualification hopes. Damien Duff produced a moment of inspiration to fire Ireland into the lead after 36 minutes. The
Chelsea forward embarked on a slaloming run past three challenges before unleashing a 25-yard shot that deflected in off
Victor Onopko. However seven minutes later the scores were level after Ireland goalkeeper
Shay Given failed to collect a corner which allowed
Sergei Ignashevich to steal in and divert the ball home from ten yards. Russia's tactics effectively nullified Ireland - from whom Damien Duff proved the only credible attacking outlet - and the game finished level with Kerr's tactics drawing some criticism afterwards for lacking creativity and an over-reliance on Duff to provide the inspiration necessary for unlocking defenses. Ireland remained second but the games in hand enjoyed by both Switzerland and Russia over them meant that a win away in Basel was vital if Ireland were to have any chance of qualifying. In the final game of the campaign, Ireland went down 2–0 due to goals from
Hakan Yakin and
Alexander Frei. The Swiss topped the group and qualified automatically. Russia's emphatic 4–1 win over the Swiss the previous month and then their 3–1 win at home to Georgia saw them secure the play-off spot. Ireland would not be going to the European Championships in Portugal. Despite the disappointment in failing to qualify, hopes remained high that Kerr would be able to lead the Irish team to the
2006 World Cup in Germany. Ireland were drawn in
UEFA Group 4 - once again alongside Switzerland - but also with the formidable challenge presented by the 1998 World Champions France, with Israel, Cyprus and Faroe Islands rounding out the group. On 4 September 2004, the campaign got off to a positive start with a 3–0 home win over Cyprus,
Clinton Morrison,
Andy Reid and Robbie Keane the scorers. Four days later, Ireland returned to the scene of their previous campaign's elimination as they took on Switzerland in Basel. This time they were able to claim a 1–1 draw after Clinton Morrison opened the scoring with Hakan Yakin restoring parity for the home side. Ireland's daunting away trip to France was next, on 9 October, but injuries and suspensions had deprived the French team of a core of their strongest players -
Zinedine Zidane,
Patrick Vieira and
Claude Makélélé among them - raising the possibility of an Irish victory. Boosted by the end of Roy Keane's international exile, Ireland turned in a committed and disciplined performance and emerged with a deserved point in a match that finished 0–0 with the French evidently still suffering from their poor performance at that Summer's European Championship. The result was received well but Damien Duff remarked that on the balance of play Ireland could, and perhaps should, have collected all three points. Five days later, this was followed by a 2–0 win over group minnows Faroe Islands at Lansdowne Road - a match in which Robbie Keane finally broke
Niall Quinn's record of 19 international goals but otherwise was characterised by poor Irish finishing. But it was in the return fixture in June of that year that saw Ireland's hopes for qualification take a serious blow and that some retrospectively remarked was the turning point for Kerr. After racing into a 2–0 lead thanks to goals from
Ian Harte and Robbie Keane, Ireland again eased off and allowed the Israelis back into the game. Avi Yehiel and Avi Nimni equalised before half-time and the result finished 2–2. The result was described as "devastating" by the Irish team and it now placed additional pressure on securing home wins against Switzerland and, ominously, France if qualification was to be assured. A routine 2–0 win away to the Faroes four days later did little to lift hopes. On 7 September 2005, Ireland welcomed France to Lansdowne Road. France were now a different proposition to the side that had drawn with Ireland in Paris the previous year and could now welcome back their first-choice players who had missed that game. Ireland produced a battling performance but, after 70 minutes and with the home side seemingly having run out of attacking ideas, they were powerless to prevent
Thierry Henry's wonder strike which curled past Given from 25 yards out. The result was a massive blow to Ireland's qualification hopes and they now had to hope to win their remaining games - away to Cyprus and at home to Switzerland - while hoping other results went their way. Cyprus were dispatched 1–0 after an early goal from
Stephen Elliott but in the home game against Switzerland, with qualification still a possibility, Ireland produced few chances. With 25 minutes remaining Kerr withdrew Robbie Keane - by now the country's record goalscorer - and the in-form Clinton Morrison, replacing them with Stephen Elliott and Gary Doherty. The gamble failed and the game finished 0–0. Ireland had again failed to qualify for a major tournament under Kerr. Kerr faced vocal criticism from pundits for his conservative approach and rumours that Damien Duff was not happy with the manager's tactics. Kerr was now out of contract and speculation emerged as to the merits of awarding him a renewal. Not long after the end of the qualification campaign, Kerr appeared on Irish television in an interview in which some observers said effectively mounted to him issuing a public plea for a new contract. It was to no avail as the FAI announced on 18 October 2005 that they would not continue with Kerr. Despite the fact that the team had lost only once in qualification, Kerr's record of one defeat, five draws and just four wins had signaled the end of his tenure as Ireland manager. He was replaced by
Steve Staunton. ==St. Patrick's Athletic Director of Football==