Since Mick McCarthy was reappointed Head Coach of the Republic of Ireland football team, he has been spear-heading a campaign to convince a number of professional football players currently playing for clubs in England and further afield, to declare for Ireland in advance of him naming his first squad ahead of the UEFA European Championships qualifying matches which start in March.
Ryan Johansson is a midfield player with Bayern Munich. The 17 year-old footballer was born in Luxembourg and has represented the Grand Duchy in non-competitive matches; as he has not played in a competitive game for the senior side, he is entitled to switch allegiance. His father is from Sweden and his mother is from Mullingar in Ireland. He has informed the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) that he wants to represent Ireland.
Midfielder Johansson featured in a handful of pre-season friendlies for Bayern Munich's senior team last summer; since then, however, he has been a regular in the club’s Under-19 team.
He will become eligible to play for Ireland’s under-19s next season (2019-20).
Mick McCarthy is also looking closely at other potential Irish-qualified players including 20 year-old Declan Rice (West Ham), 26 year-old Will Keane (Hull City, currently on loan to Ipswich Town), 25 year-old Patrick Bamford (Leeds United) and 24 year-old Nathan Redmond (Southampton).
