Editing Mick McCarthy (section)

===Return to the Republic of Ireland===
On 25 November 2018, McCarthy was appointed manager of [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] for the second time in his career, replacing [[Martin O'Neill]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2018/1124/1013087-stephen-kenny-to-replace-mccarthy-after-2020-finals/|title=Stephen Kenny to replace McCarthy after 2020 finals|date=24 November 2018|work=RTE.ie|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/soccer/fai-on-verge-of-agreement-for-both-mick-mccarthy-and-stephen-kenny-to-manage-ireland-887588.html|title=FAI on verge of agreement for BOTH Mick McCarthy and Stephen Kenny to manage Ireland|date=24 November 2018|access-date=24 November 2018}}</ref><ref name=roireturn>{{cite web|url=https://www.fai.ie/ireland/news/republic-of-ireland-under-21-managers-announced|title=Republic of Ireland & Under-21 Managers Announced – Football Association of Ireland|website=www.fai.ie|access-date=17 March 2019}}</ref> [[Robbie Keane]], a legend for the national team, was appointed as one of McCarthy's assistant coaches, alongside [[Terry Connor]], who had previously assisted McCarthy at both [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] and [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]].<ref name=roireturn/>

In March 2019, McCarthy won his first two games in charge, by defeating both [[Gibraltar national football team|Gibraltar]] and [[Georgia national football team|Georgia]], in the [[UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying Group D|UEFA Euro 2020 qualifiers in Group D]], by 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/republic-of-ireland-gibraltar-4557466-Mar2019/ |title =Misfiring Ireland shake off Gibraltar and tough conditions to start Euro campaign with a win|date=23 March 2019|work=The 42|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/ireland-v-georgia-report-euro-2020-4561527-Mar2019/|title =Conor Hourihane's ace ensures a happy homecoming for Mick McCarthy|date=26 March 2019|work=The 42|access-date=28 March 2019}}</ref>
In June 2019, the national team drew 1–1 away to [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]], before defeating Gibraltar once again, this time by 2–0, at the [[Aviva Stadium]]; four days later, McCarthy guided them to the top the Group D table, having taken ten points after four games.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/ireland-gibraltar-report-june-2019-4676366-Jun2019/|title =Brady's late header adds gloss to uninspiring Ireland win over Gibraltar|date=10 June 2019|work=The 42|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/mick-mccarthy-tv-reaction-copenhagen-4673182-Jun2019/|title =McCarthy pays tribute to 'fabulous' Duffy as Ireland snatch a point in Copenhagen|date=7 June 2019|work=The 42|access-date=11 June 2019}}</ref>

On 5 September 2019, McCarthy's side once again came from behind to draw 1–1 with [[Switzerland national football team|Switzerland]], which enabled them to remain at the top of their qualifying group, with three matches to play remaining.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/ireland-switzerland-report-september-2019-4797524-Sep2019/|title =McGoldrick's late leveller rescues Ireland against superior Swiss|date=5 September 2019|work=The 42|access-date=6 September 2019}}</ref> However, a 0–0 draw in [[Georgia national football team|Georgia]], followed by defeat in Switzerland, left Ireland needing a win at home to Denmark to secure a top two spot. A 1–1 draw saw the Irish needing to win the play-offs to qualify. On 4 April 2020, amid the global [[COVID-19 pandemic|coronavirus pandemic]], McCarthy stood down as manager and was immediately replaced by [[Stephen Kenny (football manager)|Stephen Kenny]], who had been in charge of the nation's [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|under-21s]], for the play-offs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52168274|title=Republic of Ireland: Stephen Kenny to replace Mick McCarthy as manager|work=BBC Sport |access-date=4 April 2020}}</ref>