“Will Smallbone Commends John O’Shea’s Interim Leadership”.
Southampton midfielder Will Smallbone expressed gratitude towards interim Republic of Ireland manager John O’Shea, stating, “I owe him a lot.”
Smallbone had previously collaborated with the former Manchester United defender in Ireland’s under-21 team and during his loan spell at Stoke City last season.
O’Shea is currently serving as Ireland’s temporary manager while the search for a permanent replacement continues after Stephen Kenny’s departure in November 2023.
Smallbone, who provided an assist and was named man of the match in Ireland’s recent 2-1 victory over Hungary, O’Shea’s first win as manager, has had a busy season with over 50 games played.
Despite the demanding schedule, Smallbone emphasized his commitment to delivering top performances for O’Shea and Ireland, acknowledging O’Shea’s significant influence on his career.
Smallbone told the Irish Times: “Playing over 50 games this season is tough, but when John calls, I feel a strong obligation to help him and put in a good performance.
“The past few months have been very rewarding for me, from winning at Wembley to securing a man of the match title here. I can’t express enough gratitude to John for his support throughout my career and hopefully for many years ahead.
“I’m thrilled he got the win. His qualities as a manager are really showing now. I’ve enjoyed working with John from the under-21s to Stoke, and it’s great to see our professional relationship continue to flourish.”
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