Pauw Led the Irish Women’s Squad to Their Inaugural World Cup Appearance Amid Controversy
Vera Pauw has parted ways with the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team, as the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) chose not to renew her contract in the aftermath of the World Cup.
Hired in 2019, Pauw made history by steering the Irish women’s team to their first-ever major international tournament, hosted in Australia.
FAI’s decision came on the heels of a board meeting on Tuesday, where it was resolved that Pauw’s time at the helm would not extend beyond her current contract, which expires at the end of this month.
Pauw’s term wasn’t without its bumps. Allegations of body shaming dating back to 2018 resurfaced, which she has firmly rejected. Furthermore, there was notable tension with the Irish team’s captain, Katie McCabe, during the World Cup.
Last month, Ireland was eliminated in the group stages of the World Cup, managing only a draw against Nigeria and suffering losses to Australia and Canada.
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill expressed his gratitude, saying, “We thank Vera Pauw for her years of dedication and wish her all the best moving forward. She led our women’s team to a historic World Cup appearance, which has uplifted and inspired an entire nation. Our primary aim now is to build on this foundation for the betterment of women and girls’ football in Ireland.”
While the 60-year-old Dutch native had been vocal about her interest in staying on as manager, contract discussions had started to stall. An article in the Athletic featured allegations from Houston Dash players regarding body shaming, putting the talks on ice. Pauw strongly denied these claims, but the controversy overshadowed the team’s World Cup preparations against France.
In the World Cup, several Irish players declined to publicly support Pauw. Leading up to their final group game against Nigeria, questions regarding Pauw’s future became the central narrative. After the match, Pauw and McCabe had a disagreement over the lack of player substitutions, with Pauw remarking, “She is not the coach.” McCabe responded with a cryptic tweet, featuring a zipped-mouth emoji.
The writing seemed to be on the wall regarding the non-renewal of Pauw’s contract, and this has now been confirmed after an internal review.
The Republic of Ireland’s women’s team is slated to face off against Northern Ireland in Dublin on September 23 in the Nations League. This will be the first senior women’s international match to take place at the Aviva Stadium.
As the curtain falls on Pauw’s chapter, all eyes are fixated on what’s next for the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team.
‘How Can You Defend Against a Falsehood?’
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Vera Pauw Departure
Why did Vera Pauw leave her role as the Republic of Ireland’s women’s soccer team manager?
Vera Pauw left her role because the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) decided not to renew her contract following the World Cup. The decision came after a board meeting and was confirmed after an internal review.
What was Vera Pauw’s notable achievement with the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team?
Vera Pauw guided the Republic of Ireland’s women’s team to their first-ever major international tournament, the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 in Australia.
Were there any controversies surrounding Vera Pauw during her tenure?
Yes, Pauw faced allegations of body shaming dating back to 2018, which she has denied. Additionally, there was a publicized falling-out between her and Irish captain Katie McCabe during the World Cup.
What was the Republic of Ireland’s performance in the Women’s World Cup 2023?
The Republic of Ireland’s women’s team was eliminated in the group stage. They managed to draw a match against Nigeria but lost to Australia and Canada.
What is the next big event for the Republic of Ireland’s women’s soccer team?
The team is set to play against Northern Ireland in Dublin on September 23 in the Nations League. This will be the first senior women’s international match to be held at the Aviva Stadium.
Who commented from FAI about Vera Pauw’s departure?
FAI CEO Jonathan Hill made an official statement thanking Vera Pauw for her years of service and acknowledging her role in taking the Irish women’s team to the World Cup. He also expressed that the focus would now shift to building upon her work for the future of women’s and girls’ football in Ireland.
Did Vera Pauw express a desire to continue as the manager?
Yes, Vera Pauw had openly spoken about her wish to remain in charge, and contract talks had begun before the World Cup. However, those talks went quiet following the emergence of an article in the Athletic concerning body shaming allegations.
How did the players react to Vera Pauw’s management during the World Cup?
Several Irish players chose not to publicly back Pauw during the World Cup. There were also tensions between her and captain Katie McCabe, particularly over player substitutions during the match against Nigeria.
What happens now after Vera Pauw’s departure?
The FAI will likely initiate a search for a new manager, with the aim of building on the foundation laid by Pauw for the future of women’s and girls’ football in Ireland.
What was Katie McCabe’s response to the controversy?
Katie McCabe responded to the disagreement over player substitutions with a tweet featuring a zipped-mouth emoji, suggesting that she did not wish to openly discuss the issue.
More about Vera Pauw Departure
- FAI Official Statement on Vera Pauw’s Departure
- Republic of Ireland’s Women’s World Cup 2023 Performance
- The Athletic Article on Body Shaming Allegations
- Katie McCabe’s Twitter Response
- Upcoming Nations League Match Details
- Historic Women’s Match at Aviva Stadium
- Profile of Vera Pauw
10 comments
I’m just here for the numbers. The team’s performance wasn’t top-notch, but it wasn’t terrible either. A new coach might bring in fresh tactics, who knows?
Reading between the lines, it seems like the FAI had made up its mind even before the World Cup. Kinda unfair, but thats the world of sports for ya.
so we draw with Nigeria, and suddenly everyone’s a critic. Pauw’s not a magician. cut her some slack.
Mixed feelings. Pauw got us to the World Cup, which is awesome. But group stage exit and controversies? idk, maybe its time for a new era.
Pauw’s exit is gonna be big shoes to fill. but, sometimes, change is good. right? looking forward to the Nations League.
If I had a smartwatch that predicted soccer events, it would’ve been buzzing like crazy lol. So unpredictable.
She had her ups and downs, but you can’t ignore the good she’s done. Who’s gonna be the next boss? Hope they continue what she started.
Surprised but also not surprised? The allegations and all the drama with Katie McCabe was pretty loud. hard to ignore that stuff.
Whoa, didn’t see that coming! Vera Pauw made history, man. So why let her go? kinda harsh if ya ask me.
this whole thing’s got more drama than a Hollywood movie! Might as well sell the rights and let Scorsese direct it.