Greece manager Gus Poyet has played down previous comments regarding his interest in the Republic of Ireland job and says he has had no contact with the FAI about the position.
The former Chelsea midfielder's Greek side faced Ireland during the Euro 2024 qualifiers, winning both games in June and October respectively.
In the immediate wake of the latter match at the Aviva Stadium, Poyet had praised Irish fans and said that he "would like to be in charge of the team here".
A month later, he appeared to reiterate that stance in an interview with LiveScore when he was quoted as saying that it "is a possibility that they [Ireland] will like me, that they will contact me" amid suggestions that he would not seek to extend his Greece contract beyond March's European Championship play-offs when they will face Kazakhstan in a semi-final.
The Ireland job has been vacant since November when the FAI parted ways with Stephen Kenny.
England Under-21 manager Lee Carsley was viewed as the favourite to succeed Kenny but according to the Daily Mail, the ex-Ireland midfielder has turned down the chance to be the next manager.
Former Celtic boss Neil Lennon is also among the names linked to the position, with the expectation that the FAI are aiming to appoint a new head coach ahead of the UEFA Nations League draw on 8 February.
On Monday, Poyet was in Dublin for the launch of the Carlsberg 0.0 Nil All Campaign, building up to Wednesday's Premier League clash between Liverpool and his former club Chelsea.
Speaking to RTÉ Sport, the Uruguayan underlined the fact that there had been no communication to or from the FAI whatsoever, although that would not preclude him being interested in the role at some point in the more distant future.
"Personally, there is no contact, there is no nothing. I cannot commit now. I've got a responsibility with Greece. If you ask me would I like to stay in Greece, I will say yes, no doubt," he said.
"I would like to qualify obviously (for Euro 2024) but the timing and everything is not right (regarding Ireland). Then it's the truth it would be amazing in future to have an opportunity working here."
However, Poyet did muse as to whether the FAI and other associations might not include him on their shortlists in the short-term because he remains under contract and the fact that he is preparing for play-offs in two months' time.
"I will say something about one previous interview that I had," he said.
"Maybe I'm not the person that the federation is looking for. They're looking for characteristics of a coach, or also maybe they are being respectful that I'm under contract.
"Nobody likes that they're coming to take your coach when it's two months to a play-off. So either way, you have to accept this.
"I'm calm, it's not the first time I finished my contract. It happened as a footballer. I'm just focused on the play-off. Like, crazy focus on the two games that are coming."
While Poyet reiterated his admiration for the passion he saw from Ireland's home supporters, the 56-year-old moved to clarify the previous comments attributed to him.
"It was clear. We played in different places in the last two years in the national team and the atmosphere I saw from the moment we left the hotel to the stadium, all of the warm-up because I had to do television (interview pre-match) for Greece so I had to come out. Normally I don't go out for the warm-up and then even with us winning, the atmosphere there I thought was impressive," he said.
"Impressive to a point that that's the only games I miss as a football player. You know people ask me, 'Do you miss (playing) football?' I say not really. But this particular game or a final, yes I do.
"So I thought it was important to say it at the end. The problem was that one clever journalist when I was leaving, literally, the press conference, he came running towards me and (said), 'Maybe there is an opportunity in December if there is a change of coach.'
"And then I said, 'I finish my contract (with Greece)', nothing else and I left and there was a little bit of news but apart from that nothing.
"My contract still finishes on the 31st of March. What can I say? Nothing else. The rest is all public but you do know it has been everywhere."
In the full interview, Poyet also delved into his tactical approach against Ireland in the two Euro 2024 qualifying wins with the former Brighton manager also discussing Evan Ferguson, his Liverpool compatriot Darwin Nunez and the development of Mauricio Pochettino's Chelsea.
