Matt Doherty launched a passionate defence of Stephen Kenny and warned the FAI to think twice about binning him.
Ireland lost 1-0 to Holland in Amsterdam on Saturday night but needed a slew of Gavin Bazunu saves to keep the score respectable.
It is widely believed to be Kenny’s final competitive game in charge and that Tuesday’s friendly with New Zealand will be his last at the helm.
READ MORE: Netherlands 1-0 Ireland score recap and result as Dutch dominate in Amsterdam
But stand-in captain Doherty has told the FAI to weigh up their next move, insisting Kenny is still the man for the job.
Asked what he thought about Kenny’s impending exit, Doherty said: “I hope it’s not the case.
“This group needs to be coached well and that’s exactly the things we have been getting for a long time now. I hope he stays on.
“I have always backed him and he always backs me. I would love to see him and all the staff stay.”
Doherty continued: “If people really saw what it’s like on the training pitch, in the changing room and how they care about their players, the attention to detail, I think they would be hard pressed to find someone to match that.”
Kenny admits he is none the wiser about his future ahead of an FAI review into his tenure and a November 28 board meeting.
The Ireland boss said: “I really don’t know. I don’t control that. It’s quite possible. I don’t know.
“(The support from players), I don’t think it’s just for me, it’s for the whole environment and level of professionalism with all the staff, not just a personal one for me.
“We have rebuilt a team over the last couple of years because it was needed. The alternatives were players who moved down the divisions.
“But all I can say is I saw the effort tonight and the high level of skill and bravery from the players.
“It wasn’t enough and Holland were better than us. But what’s the alternative? Defend deep and try and see it out? They will break you down anyway.
“We tried to create chances against them at home in September by pressing higher. They caused us problems tonight when they played through our press.
“But the players were courageous in and out of possession and fought until the end.”
Kenny continued: “Holland are world class and one of the top teams in Europe with players at the best clubs.
“We’ve played them twice and there was nothing in the game in Dublin and tonight they had a lot of chances and we relied on last ditch defending and Gavin in goal.
“The reason we have not beaten a top tier nation away from home in our history is because it’s bloody hard.
‘But I salute my players as they wanted the ball in all areas of the pitch and put their body on the line.
“The players were very brave and played very well for long periods. We made mistakes in possession and nearly got punished as they have a real cutting edge in attack.”
Get the latest sports headlines straight to your inbox by signing up for free email alerts.
