Seán Kelly MEP’s Post

View profile for Seán Kelly MEP, graphic

Member of the European Parliament for Ireland South - Fine Gael & EPP Group

🏟️ A New Path for Irish Football Ireland has long been a force in global sports, from rugby to boxing, but when it comes to football, we’ve hit a crossroads. While we look back fondly on the highs of the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups, our men’s national team has slipped down the rankings. The women’s game, on the other hand, is thankfully on the rise, thanks to increased investment and the inspiration provided by our recent World Cup heroes. Now more than ever, it's time to focus on the League of Ireland (LOI) academies. The challenges of Brexit have made it impossible for young Irish players to join English clubs before 18, forcing us to rethink talent development at home. We should look to countries like Belgium and Denmark, which have transformed their football systems by investing in grassroots development. We need better facilities, full-time coaches, and stronger connections with European clubs. This isn't just about retaining our talent—it’s about creating a self-sustaining system that allows Irish football to thrive on the world stage once again. A unified, all-island approach to academies and competitions can boost opportunities and elevate standards. The old pathways are closing, but that gives us the chance to forge a new, brighter future for Irish football. #IrishFootball #LOIAcademies #GrassrootsDevelopment #WomenInSport Football Association of Ireland, Leagueofireland.ie https://lnkd.in/eYUhcVby

Seán Kelly: Ireland must invest in League of Ireland academies — it has to be a political priority

Seán Kelly: Ireland must invest in League of Ireland academies — it has to be a political priority

independent.ie

Declan Burke

Franchisee , Food Industry 22 years , General manager ( Healthcare Manufacturing ) , Production and Engineering Manager( Food ,Healthcare , Textiles ,

3mo

The GAA gets. Early 50% of all the 200 odd millions of sports grants , surely this is wrong , they don’t have to pay wages etc

Like
Reply

To view or add a comment, sign in

Explore topics