Bayern Munich have announced that head coach Thomas Tuchel will leave the club at the end of the season, opening the door for coach Anthony Barry to become a candidate for the vacant managerial position with the Republic of Ireland.
Tuchel's position has come under scrutiny following a woeful run of results that has left the Bundesliga champions facing the prospect of a first season without winning a trophy since 2011-12.
Bayern chief executive Jan-Christian Dreesen told the club website: "In an open, good conversation we came to the decision to mutually end our collaboration in the summer. Our goal is to carry out a sporting realignment with a new coach for the 2024/25 season.
"Until then, every individual at the club is expressly called upon to achieve the maximum possible in the Champions League and Bundesliga.
"I also explicitly hold the team accountable in this regard. In the Champions League in particular, after losing 1-0 in the first leg at Lazio, we are convinced we will reach the quarter-finals at a packed Allianz Arena with our fans behind us."
Former Chelsea boss Tuchel, who took over in March 2023, said: "We have agreed that we will end our collaboration after this season.
"Until then, I and my coaching team will of course continue to do everything we can to ensure maximum success."
The FAI are keen to appoint a manager before the upcoming friendlies with Belgium and Switzerland.
England Under-21 head coach Lee Carsley remains the No 1 target, but there has yet to be a major breakthrough in terms of an agreement between both parties.
The idea of an interim manager remains on the table if a deal is not agreed in time and Barry, who worked under Stephen Kenny in the previous era for departing to work with Belgium, could appeal to the FAI.
When asked if there was a possibility there might not be a manager in place by the time Ireland are next in action in late March, FAI director of football Marc Canham replied: "The process is ongoing. We hope to conclude that as soon as possible. It's a confidential process. We ran a very tight process with respect to all the people that we spoke to and are speaking to. We just need to make sure that we keep that completely confidential."
It was reported last year that Barry had been on the radar of the FAI to replace Kenny.
He is also working with Portugal but the appeal of an outright head coach job may now be stronger given his time at Bayern is coming to an end.
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