Every long journey starts with a single step and Carla Ward took a welcome stride in the right direction on her bow as head coach of the Republic of Ireland women’s team. Ward’s ambition is to lead the team to the 2027 World Cup where the sun and samba beat of the Copacabana will seem

Republic of Ireland manager Carla Ward says her side's 1-0 win against Turkey in the Women's Nations League "wasn't pretty" but that the three points were the "most important thing".

Carla Ward couldn’t hide her frustration on the touchline as Ireland made a meal of their Nations League win against Turkey on Friday night. Kyra Carusa’s goal decided the tie, but the performance was a few notches below what the new Girls in Green gaffer would have expected on her first 90 minutes in the job.

Carla Ward managed the Ireland WNT for the first time tonight against Turkey. A Kyra Carusa goal was the difference as Ireland claimed the win.

Carla Ward's reign as Republic of Ireland manager gets off to a winning start as her side beat Turkey 1-0 in the Women's Nations League.

WELCOME TO INTERNATIONAL football,” Carla Ward thought to herself as the clock ticked down at Tallaght Stadium. The new Ireland head coach opened her reign with a scrappy 1-0 win over Türkiye last night.