| The Irish team made its competitive debut at the 1924 | | | | followed in 1984 and 1986 for the European |
| Olympics and in the process they reached the quarter | | | | Championships and World Cup respectively which |
| finals. | | | | ended his stint in charge. |
| Between 1924 and 1936 the team competed as the | | | | The Republics greatest era came under the |
| Irish Free State and from then until 1950 the team was | | | | management of Jack Charlton 1986-1995, during his |
| known as Ireland. After some confusion as the north | | | | reign Ireland qualified for the 1988 European |
| of Ireland and the south were both called Ireland and | | | | Championships in Germany, 1990 World Cup Finals in |
| the fact that players were playing for both sides FIFA | | | | Italy and the USA 1994 World Cup. Not only did the |
| intervened and after 1950 the team became known as | | | | Irish qualify but they left there mark on each |
| the Republic of Ireland and this remains the case | | | | championship they qualified for. |
| today. | | | | In the 1988 European Championships in Germany the |
| After a troubled period in the 1960's, the Irish team | | | | Irish failed to advance from the Group stages but with |
| regained respectability in the football world under the | | | | only 8 teams in the competition Ireland finished a very |
| direction of Johhny Giles, only narrowly missing out on | | | | respectable 5th. It also provided the Irish fans with the |
| qualification for the 1978 World Cup. | | | | first but not the last great moment in Irish football. A 1-0 |
| Eoin Hand took the reigns for the 1982 World cup | | | | win against England with a Ray Houghton goal |
| qualifications and again narrowly missed out this time | | | | provided the Irish with their first memorable moment in |
| on goal difference to France. Disappointing campaigns | | | | a competitive championship. |