Gleeson refuses to discuss her Republic of Ireland future

Eileen Gleeson's Republic of Ireland contract has now expired following the end of her team's Euro 2025 campaign

Manager Eileen Gleeson refused to discuss her future in the Republic of Ireland job after her side's 3-2 aggregate defeat by Wales meant they missed out on a place at Euro 2025.

Hannah Cain's 50th-minute penalty and substitute Carrie Jones' goal earned Wales a 2-1 play-off second-leg win in Dublin as the Irish were unable to follow their qualification for last year's World Cup by earning a spot in Switzerland.

"I’m not thinking about that tonight, we have a team who are devastated at the fact that they are not going to the Euros," said Gleeson when asked whether she would remain in the role.

The Ireland manager's contract has now expired following the end of the Euro 2025 campaign although she had suggested prior to the play-off that she was keen to stay in job.

"I'm not talking about anything else other than the game tonight. We're going to pick ourselves up and we'll go again.

"We have to go again, women’s football will not stand still. It’s a setback and a major disappointment, obviously."

'A lot of provocation' - Gleeson on Wales bench

Gleeson, pointedly, did not congratulate Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson after the final whistle and at the later post-match news conference accused the Welsh bench of "a lot of provocation".

"There were reactions to that as well. It was a team challenge to manage across the night," said Gleeson, whose captain Katie McCabe was on the receiving end of several robust challenges which eventually provoked a response that led to the Arsenal star being handed a yellow card.

"A lot of shouting at players, aggressive language to our staff."

Republic of Ireland goalkeeping coach Emma Byrne was also yellow carded during the game.

The Wales manager said that she had attempted to speak to Gleeson at full-time but the Ireland manager retorted: "I didn’t see Rhian. She didn’t come near me, I didn’t go near her, I was with my team."

For her part, Wilkinson shrugged off Gleeson's remarks.

"There’s always some words occasionally. A team has to win and a team had to lose and there’s high emotions but I also think that’s football," said the Wales boss.