Mick McCarthy is set to make a surprise return to management with this Cyprus based club APEOL Nicosia, according to reports.
The 61 year old, who has recently turned to commentating and punditry, has been approached to become manager of the Cypriot outfit months after departing from his role at the Republic of Ireland.
Talks have allegedly opened between the APOEL’s president Prodromos Petrides and McCarthy’s representatives, who have traveled to Nicosia.
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The club has won their country’s top division a total of 28 times between 1936 and 2019; however last season they finished 3rd, however it was in May 2020 that the league was abandoned due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The title was not awarded, and no teams were relegated, with the league expanded to 14 teams next season for a transitional year.
So the holders go back to the previous season, which APOEL still holds; however it doesn’t look good compared to their current position of 9th in the table, which is why they are now managerless.
They are in fact closer to relegation than they are winning the league, so now is one of the most important decisions in the club’s history as they look to get back to successful times.
They qualified for the Europa League after missing out on that all-important Champions League spot.
Though they failed to get in the group stages of Europe’s second-tier competition, losing to Slovan Liberec in the playoff round.
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APEOL Nicosia confirmed the talks are ongoing on their Twitter account.
They tweeted: “APOEL Football informs that it expects Irish coach Michael McCarthy to be in Cyprus tomorrow so that discussions on the possibility of cooperation can be concluded.”
If all goes to plan, McCarthy could be appointed as their new manager as early as this weekend.
He was due to leave the role at Ireland at the end of Euro 2020, but his departure was expedited as the competition was pushed back until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking on his exit, the Football Assocation of Ireland (FAI) interim chief executive said: “On behalf of the FAI, I wish to express our gratitude to Mick for his service and commitment to our national team throughout his career and particularly in his second spell as Ireland manager.
“We wish Mick and his staff well and we thank them all for their hard work in this European Championship campaign to date.”
Mick McCarthy has been linked with a return to football since he stood down as the Republic of Ireland manager and was immediately replaced by Stephen Kenny, who had been in charge of the nation’s under-21s.
McCarthy is currently out of work, having ended his second spell in charge of the national team following the postponement of the Euros to next summer, and he has vast amounts of Championship experience having guided both Sunderland and Wolves to promotion and Ipswich to the playoffs a fair few years ago.
MCCARTHY MANAGERIAL STATS:
Millwall – 18 Mar 1992 until 4 Feb 1996 – 203 games, 74 wins, 70 draws, 59 defeats – 36.5 % won
Republic of Ireland – 1 Mar 1996 until 5 Nov 2002 – 68 games, 29 wins, 20 19 – 42.6 % won
Sunderland – 12 Mar 2003 until 6 Mar 2006 – 147 games, 63 wins, 26 draws, 58 defeats – 42.9 % won
Wolves – 21 Jul 2006 until 13 Feb 2012 – 270 games, 104 wins, 66 draws, 100 defeats – 38.5 % won
Ipswich Town – 1 Nov 2012 until 10 Apr 2018 – 279 games, 105 wins, 78 draws, 96 defeats, – 37.6 % won
Republic of Ireland – 25 Nov 2018 until 4 Apr 2020 – 10 games, 5 wins, 4 draws, 1 defeat – 50.0 % won
Total – 977 games, 380 wins, 264 draws, 333 defeats, 38.9 % won
Fans reacted after seeing that Mick McCarthy is set for a surprise return to management…
APOEL Nicosia have had 13 managers in the last five years so, if Mick McCarthy is going there, he shouldn’t sign a 12 month lease on a house…
— Kieran Cunningham (@KCsixtyseven) October 30, 2020
Mick McCarthy in talks to become APOEL manager? 2020 is a bit mental isn’t it ?
— Lewis ? (@LewisLaird01) October 30, 2020
Does that mean he won’t commentate for sky sports again. If so, get him over there ASAP
— Ben ?? (@Ben_SCFC_) October 30, 2020
Mick McCarthy to APOEL. I can’t wait to hear the nicknames he gives some of his players. Some cracking names for him to try and pronounce.
— Mark Beck (@rskid26) October 30, 2020
Don’t know much about Cypriot football but let’s hope ye like brain numbing football
— ??☘️?? (@IrishPropaganda) October 30, 2020
See Also: Mick McCarthy hits out at Ipswich fans who ‘hounded’ him out of job
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