Anthony Barry: Bayern Munich boss Tuchel dismisses assistant's link with Ireland job

Anthony Barry was praised for his work as part of Stephen Kenny's Republic of Ireland backroom team between early 2021 and early 2022

Bayern Munich manager Thomas Tuchel has said reports linking his assistant Anthony Barry with the vacant Republic of Ireland job are totally inaccurate.

Barry was part of the backroom team of previous Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny from early 2021 until joining Belgium in a similar role.

Tuchel appointed Barry as his Bayern assistant in September after previously working with him at Chelsea.

"It's just not true," said Tuchel of Barry's reported Republic link.

"You can forget about that. It's just not at all an issue."

Barry's 12-month stint with the Republic was in a part-time capacity until he moved to assist then Belgium manager Roberto Martinez in a similar way in February 2022.

The Liverpool native received a lot of his praise for his work with the Republic, which was the most promising period of Kenny's ultimately unsuccessful reign.

Barry, 37, is now combining his Bayern Munich role with another coaching position with the Portugal national team after he again linked up with Martinez.

Earlier this week, Football Association of Ireland chief executive Jonathan Hill refused to go into any detail on the search for a successor to Kenny.

"We are still talking to a number of candidates in relation to it," said Hill.

"I am not going to say who any of those candidates are but the process is moving forward well."

England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley is believed to be among the contenders with another former Republic international, Ghana boss Chris Hughton, also being linked with the role.