O'Neill & Keane set to be Ireland management team

Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane will be confirmed as Ireland's new management team later this week

FAI Chief Executive John Delaney said there were some minor details still to be worked out, but it was planned that the new management team would be officially unveiled on Saturday.

Former Celtic, Aston Villa and Sunderland manager O'Neill will then take control of the national side ahead of upcoming friendlies against Latvia and Poland.

Speaking to RTÉ this afternoon, Delaney revealed that the appointment was something that was years in the making.

"We've wanted Martin O'Neill for a long time, not just this time around," he said.

"When Martin said yes we were all thrilled. He's a passionate Irishman, he's a great man manager and I think he's the right man to manage Ireland"

The revelation that Roy Keane would be the assistant manager has raised many eyebrows over recent days, Delaney said this was something O'Neill requested.

"He said it to me last week over a meal. I actually said no problem ... your job is appointing the management team - and I come from the school that the manager appoints the management team."

Asked about any possible friction between the association and Keane, Delaney admitted he and Keane had discussed the past 'for 30 seconds' but sought to look to the future.

"Irish football & our country is bigger than anything.Two icons of Irish football can work together with us. The past is in the past."

"We've wanted Martin O'Neill for a long time, not just this time around" - John Delaney

Martin O'Neill was identified as the FAI's primary choice within days of Trapattoni's departure following the defeats by Sweden and Austria which effectively ended Ireland's hopes of making it to next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.

However, the FAI has allowed the 61-year-old, who has been out of the game since being shown the door by Sunderland in March, to take his time over his decision.

In the meantime, Ray Houghton and FAI high performance director Ruud Dokter were charged with the task of assessing alternative candidates.

But all along, the power brokers have been hoping for a positive response from the Northern Irishman, and things have moved on apace since he gave the first indications that he was ready to commit himself to Ireland.

Keane, of course, enjoyed a distinguished international career with the Republic, but fell out spectacularly with then manager Mick McCarthy as they completed their preparations for the 2002 World Cup finals in the Far East and returned home without kicking a ball in anger.

Time appears to have healed any lingering wounds and there is little doubt that a link-up between two men who as individuals enjoy popular support will capture the imagination of fans who became disillusioned with Trapattoni's conservatism once results began to elude him.

The 74-year-old spent five and a half years at the helm with businessman Denis O'Brien providing a significant proportion of the funding - he will continue his financial support - and that investment initially paid dividends.

O'Neill and Keane, who also had a spell in charge of the Black Cats, will launch their reign with a friendly against Latvia in Dublin on November 15, when the FAI will hope the public vote with their feet by turning out in force, before heading for Poland four days later.

The serious business will begin in September next year when Ireland set out on the road to Euro 2016 hoping they can once again compete for a place at the finals of a major tournament.

Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

O'Neill & Keane set to be Ireland management team

Dengan url

http://newsdeadlineup.blogspot.com/2013/11/oneill-keane-set-to-be-ireland.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

O'Neill & Keane set to be Ireland management team

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

O'Neill & Keane set to be Ireland management team

sebagai sumbernya

News Deadline