Republic of Ireland Women's Football Team

Image source, Inpho

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward has revealed she turned down an offer to manage a Women's Super League club "a few weeks ago" and has reiterated her full commitment to her present role.

Ward succeeded Eileen Gleeson as Republic manager in January and has been at the helm for four Nations League matches to date, three wins and a heavy 4-0 defeat by Slovenia.

The primary focus for the 41-year-old however is qualifying for the 2027 World Cup, which begins in February.

Ward formerly managed Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Aston Villa in her native country, but stepped down as Villa boss a year ago.

"I'll tell you one thing. I was offered a WSL job a few weeks ago and I turned it down because I am loving what I am doing," said Ward after naming her squad for the forthcoming Nations League games against Turkey and Slovenia.

"Listen, I really wanted the Ireland job. I turned down two other countries that offered me the job whilst I was in the interview process for Ireland because I wholeheartedly wanted to manage this country. So when I say I am in, I am in.

"I am talking long term to the board, not just around the next two games, but how we develop the League of Ireland - we've spoken a lot about that - so there is a bigger picture here. I have loved being here. There have been some challenges of course, but I love being here. I am proud to represent this country."

Image source, Inpho

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward says her team's first-half display in their 4-0 defeat by Slovenia was "completely unacceptable".

Ward enjoyed a 1-0 win over Turkey in her first game in charge but endured a difficult 90 minutes in Koper on Tuesday evening as Slovenia strolled to a Nations League victory.

Slovenia held a 3-0 lead at the break and added a late fourth in a clinical performance.

"The first half was horrible - that's on me. I've tried something different, I've tried to get us in positions to create more, and it's not paid off," Ward told RTE Sport.

"We have to own it, we have to take responsibility, we have to look at it, we have to make sure that that half of football never happens again because it's completely unacceptable.

"At half-time we had to readjust and in the second half I thought we were much, much better but you can't have a half of football like that and expect to win the game."

The defeat leaves Republic of Ireland second in the League B Group 2 standings and three points behind leaders Slovenia.

Despite the disappointing result, Ward has no intention of changing her footballing philosophy.

"I think you could see across both games what we're trying to do," she said.

"My philosophy has been the same, and it's served me well at all three clubs [Sheffield United, Birmingham and Aston Villa] with very little resources.

"It's about adapting. It's a new era for this group. There are some leaders that have gone too. When you lose leaders that takes its toll on other players as well."

Image source, Inpho

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward says they will face a Slovenia team with an "abundance of quality" in Tuesday's Nations League game in Koper.

Slovenia beat Greece 2-1 in their League B Group 2 opener on Friday while the Republic of Ireland clinched a 1-0 win over Turkey in Dublin.

"Slovenia are a top side - their age groups are showing that. Every single age group is improving in their rankings," Ward told RTE Sport.

"The first team are no different. They're a good side, they've got players with Champions League experience. But if I'm honest I think this type of game will be better than the game against Turkey.

"Why? Because you've got two teams who want to play football. There will be spaces that open up which naturally makes for a better game. It'll be a very different game but it will be a tough game because they've got an abundance of quality."

Kyra Carusa scored the only goal as Ward began her reign as Republic of Ireland boss with victory over Turkey at Tallaght Stadium.

However, Ward said after the match her team's display "wasn't pretty" and there was room for improvement.

"The system will never change with me - I have a very clear way of playing, the players can see that," Ward said on Monday.

"It's trying to continue getting those messages in, but we are going to try and look at something that will allow us to create more because we didn't create enough [against Turkey].

"We looked at it - five shots in the first half, none in the second. That's an area that we've focused a lot of our work on the last couple of days, both on and off the pitch."