Qualified dentist Heimir Hallgrimsson ready to sink his teeth into Ireland role

Heimir Hallgrimsson has been appointed as the new head coach of the Republic of Ireland.

The former Iceland and Jamaica coach replaces interim manager John O’Shea, who took charge following Stephen Kenny’s departure in November.

Here, the PA news agency picks out five things you may not know about Icelander Hallgrimsson.

Helped humiliate England

A qualified dentist

Hodgson is unlikely to be the only person to have had an uncomfortable experience at the hands of Hallgrimsson. The 57-year-old is a qualified dentist and has combined his football career with running a dental practice on the volcanic island of Heimaey in his homeland. “Some coaches play golf or do hiking or whatever, I do dentistry,” he said earlier this year. “I always like to have my hands and head occupied.”

Has rubbed shoulders with Usain Bolt

Maiden managerial trip to Ireland was not memorable

Just before joining his country’s national team, initially as assistant coach, Hallgrimsson endured an unhappy trip to Dublin in July 2011 while in charge of Icelandic club IBV. His side had won the first leg of the Europa League first-round qualifier against St Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 in Reykjavik. But his maiden match as a manager on Irish soil ended in a 2-0 defeat to Pete Mahon’s men at Richmond Park, resulting in a 2-1 aggregate exit.

Happy to talk tactics at the pub

During his earlier days with Iceland, Hallgrimsson, who led his nation to World Cup qualification for the first time in 2018, was eager to have a closer connection with fans. According to the New York Times, he therefore invited fans to meet him at a pub to unveil the starting line-up for the next match and discuss the opposition’s strengths and weaknesses. He turned the initial meeting into a tradition. “I would like to give them ownership in what we are doing,” said Hallgrimsson. “A small nation can’t make it with just one guy.”