The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has revamped its underage coaching structures by appointing five new international lead coaches who will move fluidly between the under-15 and under-19 squads across men’s and women’s pathways, according to an FAI announcement in May. Noel Hunt, a former Republic of Ireland striker and three-time senior cap international, joins Chelsea Noonan, John Cotter, Keith O’Halloran, and James Scott in the quintet.
FAI Coaching Revamp Changes Underage Player Pathways
Under previous policies, international lead coaches were restricted to specific age grades. The updated structure removes those barriers, allowing the five coaches to work across both men’s and women’s under-15 to under-19 brackets. Full-time international coaches Conor McCormack, Graham Gartland, Mark Connors, and Richie Smith support the lead coaches in familiarizing themselves with a broader range of emerging talent. Hunt spent the summer overseeing prospective under-15 players via the National Pathways Programme (NPP) camp.
“It’s helped me as a coach already. We’ve got 10, 12 voices in the room, trying to session plan for a NPP,” Hunt told RTÉ Sport at FAI headquarters. He noted that collaborative session planning sparks new ideas and keeps cognitive thinking active.
Talent Identification and the Search for Late Developers
The streamlined international pathway pairs with more structured League of Ireland club academies to sharpen talent identification. However, Hunt emphasizes that the system must accommodate late developers who slip through early nets. Drawing on his own background, the 43-year-old noted he played as an outfield player while standing five-foot-four as a young goalkeeper in Waterford, stating he would not have made the current cut.
“There’ll be someone that’ll come through like I did,” Hunt said. He pointed to Premier League defender Tyrone Mings as an example of a late-blooming talent who played non-league football at age 21 or 22 before joining Ipswich Town during Hunt’s playing career there.
Transitioning from First-Team Management to National Development
Hunt’s appointment follows a demanding stint in club management. In December 2024, the Waterford native took over as first-team manager at Reading, a club where he previously played. Reading sacked him the following October. While describing football as a “great game and it can be a s*** business,” Hunt credited his wife, Alana, with helping him recover by scheduling monthly trips to force him to take time off, rest, and recalibrate.
Did you know? Noel Hunt’s professional playing career included stints at Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, alongside notable spells in Scotland and English clubs such as Reading, Leeds United, and Ipswich Town.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the new FAI international lead coaches?
The FAI appointed Noel Hunt, Chelsea Noonan, John Cotter, Keith O’Halloran, and James Scott as international lead coaches under the restructured underage pathways.
What age groups do the FAI lead coaches cover?
Unlike previous policies restricting coaches to a single age grade, the new lead coaches move fluidly between under-15 and under-19 squads in both men’s and women’s pathways.
Where did Noel Hunt manage before joining the FAI?
Hunt served as the first-team manager at English club Reading from December 2024 until his departure in October.
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