Dundalk praise Stephen Kenny for taking Ireland job in 2020

Dundalk FC have congratulated manager Stephen Kenny for his services to the club after the Dubliner signed on as the Republic of Ireland's new U21 manager on Sunday.

Kenny agreed to take over the U21 side for two years before then ultimately succeeding Mick McCarthy as senior manager and Dundalk noted how it was too good of an opportunity for Kenny to pass up.

"Dundalk FC wishes to congratulate Stephen Kenny on his appointment to be the Republic of Ireland Manager in 2020," the club wrote in a statement on their website. "The Club would like to take this occasion to thank Stephen Kenny for driving the amazing success achieved during his tenure. "We understand that his next opportunity is one that he was going to find hard to resist, once offered, and everyone connected with Oriel Park wishes him the very best. His achievements at Dundalk FC have merited this opportunity and it is fully deserved."

Kenny said that it was a tough decision to leave Dundalk after five years at the club but he added on Monday that it was a privilege to be part of a very unique period in Irish football history.

“Yes, of course there is," said Kenny when asked if there was mixed emotions leaving the Louth based club. "It was a real wrench to leave Dundalk Football Club, because we had unprecedented success there. The players and the staff were amazing to work with, a really, really special group of players. (There was a) Tremendous bond with everyone at the football club and whole town really. "I think it was a very unique period in Irish football history and it was a privilege to be a part of it. Of course, I was reluctant to leave that to go anywhere, particularly with the seeding situation with the Champions League. To be seeded in the first round of the Champions League and possibly the third round of the Europa League… to leave that would have to be something special, and this is something special. "It doesn’t get anymore special than this. This is an absolutely fantastic opportunity, and one that just you cannot turn down. I’m thrilled to be here."