Sean Thomas – Caretaker Manager of Republic of Ireland

Sean Thomas was appointed as a caretaker manager of the Irish team following the resignation of Liam Tuohy. He took charge of Ireland for a single friendly match while the search for a new manager was under way.

Sean Thomas – Football Background

Sean Thomas was a football coach with Sligo Rovers and Home Farm before he landed the Shamrock Rovers Manager’s position in 1961. Thomas spent three years at the Glenamlure Park club and in that time he won the League of Ireland First Division title and the FAI Cup twice. Sean Thomas left Rovers in acrimonious circumstances in 1964.

Sean Thomas then went on to become the first manager of Bohemians FC which still retained it’s amateur status at the time. The club decided that on-pitch success would elude the club unless it became professional.

In 1969 the club began paying it’s players and in 1970 Bohs won it’s first major trophy in more than three decades when the team overcame Sligo Rovers in the FAI Cup Final. Despite some good league campaigns the league title eluded Sean Thomas and Bohemians.

Thomas quit the Bohs job in July 1973. He had further management spells back with Shamrock Rovers, Athlone Town and Bray Wanderers.

Sean Thomas as Caretaker Republic of Ireland Manager

Sean Thomas had previously managed a League of Ireland XI when they defeated their English counterparts
2-1 at Dalymount Park in 1963. He also managed the Under 23 Republic of Ireland side on three separate occasions – all 0-0 draws with France.

Following Liam Tuohy’s departure from the role Thomas became Republic of Ireland manager in a caretaker capacity for a friendly match against Norway.

The match was played in Oslo on the 6th of June 1973. The team that Thomas picked for the match was as follows:

Alan Kelly Snr – Preston NE; T Carroll – Birmingham City; Mick Martin – Manchester United; Paddy Mulligan – Crystal Palace; Jimmy Holmes – Coventry City; A Byrne – Southampton; Miah Dennehy – Nottingham Forest; Gerry Daly – Manchester United; Don Givens – QPR; Ray Treacy – Swindon Town; Gerry Conroy – Stoke City; SUBS: Damien Richardson – Gillingham; E Fagan – Shamrock Rovers.

Miah Dennehy scored Ireland’s goal in the match.

Sean Thomas’s Record as Irish Manager

Republic of Ireland Football Managers – Irish Manager’s Records

Mick Meagan – Liam Tuohy – Sean Thomas – John Giles – Alan Kelly Snr – Eoin Hand – Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton’s Playing Style – Jack Charlton’s Appointment – Mick McCarthy – Manager Don Givens
Brian Kerr – Martin O’Neill – Stephen Staunton – Giovanni Trapattoni – Noel King

Irish Football Players

John Aldridge – George Best – Packie Bonner – Liam Brady – Shay Brennan – Noel Cantwell – Johnny Carey
Gerry Daly – Mal Donaghy – Derek Dougan – Damien Duff – Tony Dunne – Eamon Dunphy – Johnny Giles
Shay Given – Don Givens – Harry Gregg – David Healy – Ray Houghton – Denis Irwin – Pat Jennings
Robbie Keane – Robbie Keane Caps Goals – Robbie Keane Penalties Ireland – Roy Keane – Alan Kelly
Mark Lawrenson – Con Martin – Mick Martin – Kevin Moran – David McCreery – Paul McGrath
Sammy McIlroy – Jimmy Nicholl – David O’Leary – John O’Shea – Niall Quinn – Kevin Sheedy – Frank Stapleton Steve Staunton – Billy Whelan – Ronnie Whelan – Norman Whiteside