Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has praised the influence of Stephen Bradley since joining Shamrock Rovers in 2016, helping the Hoops to a third straight season.
Radley led the Hoops to consecutive league titles and their first FAI Cup since 1987. Thaler’s side kick off their European Conference League campaign against Djurgårdens IF on Thursday, while Kenny insists a third-tier competition is achievable. St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers also For the current Irish club after an aggressive but unsuccessful qualifying campaign this summer.
“Shamrock Rovers does so many things as a club,” said Kenny during the LOI Central live show on Sunday.
“Stephen has done a great job. I didn’t know until this year that he had been a manager for six years. Creative players like Mandroy and Graham Burke didn’t show up, Roberto Lopez got injured, it was a collective effort.
“Their whole team has come forward. Alan Mannus is rejuvenated and Rory Gaffney is having the best season of his life at 32. In 2016 they have easily won the league.It is not their fault that no one pushed them.I think Delhi will be a real rival next year.
“It[the conference league]is pretty achievable now. We have a great platform, an experienced team, and the chance to play some of the biggest names.
“I think Rovers will win the league this year, but next year Derry will push. came to Sligo Not everyone plays the same way.
“It’s important for the league to develop. We need coaches who see the game in a certain way. It’s great to have so many coaches who are progressive in their thinking and want to play that way. For a long time, our DNA was “I was told that it was a direct style of play and that a team that builds from behind can’t win leagues.
Kenny also spoke about Keith Long leaving The Bohemians last year after spending eight years at the Phibsboro Club.
“There’s no reason he couldn’t stay there and rebuild again. Whoever comes in there has a great opportunity to build a team.
“Last year the Bohemians played three great games at Aviva, but I thought it was terrible that he (Long) wasn’t allowed to manage last season’s FAI Cup final. “There is a difference. They could go to Europe. They lost a lot of players. It’s a constant rebuilding.”
