The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has confirmed a new full-time international coaching structure covering all underage national teams from Under-15 to Under-19 level, moving away from a traditional age-group model to a more connected, phase-based approach designed to ensure greater alignment throughout the player development pathway.

The FAI announced that the structure will see five full-time International Lead Coaches, Noel Hunt, Chelsea Noonan, John Cotter, Keith O'Halloran and James Scott, working alongside four full-time International Coaches, Conor McCormack, Graham Gartland, Mark Connors and Richie Smith, across both men's and women's underage international programmes.

Hunt, a former Ireland international with Premier League experience, and Noonan, who recently helped Birmingham City secure promotion to the Women's Super League as assistant head coach, are among the new additions to the structure alongside McCormack and Gartland.

FAI Technical Director Shane Robinson said: "The introduction of the new coaching structure is an important step forward for our international pathway and reflects the direction we want to take as an Association. We wanted to build a full-time coaching structure that is more connected, collaborative and aligned across the pathway.”

Robinson added: “There is strong experience within this group of coaches who have worked across international football, League of Ireland, academy environments, grassroots, development programmes and abroad in a number of different football settings. Importantly, they all share a passion for developing young players and helping drive standards for the betterment of Irish football."

Get the full details on the FAI's new international coaching structure and what it means for Ireland's underage football pathway.