Dawn of a new era for Irish soccer as confirmation looms

The FAI hope to be able to confirm this morning that Martin O’Neill is the new manager of Ireland, with Roy Keane as his assistant.

The finishing touches were being put to the deal last night and, barring any last minute complications, it is the intention that the agreement will be confirmed today, ahead of a public unveiling later in the week in Dublin.

Both O’Neill and Keane are currently in Spain and will be live on ITV tonight for the station’s coverage of Manchester United’s Champions League meeting with Real Sociedad.

Keane was humbled and enthused to be asked by O’Neill to become his assistant manager, according to a longtime friend of the Derryman, the BBC Radio broadcaster Pat Murphy.

“Martin rang up Keane and put it to him that he’d join him as his assistant,” Murphy said yesterday. ” Roy was very humbled, supportive and encouraged by the offer.”

Murphy believes the two will work well together.

“The pair have gotten to know each other well through their work on ITV and they share the same views and values on football,” he said. “This could be a lot more interesting than spectacular. Put all their credentials together and it gives brilliant chemistry.

“O’Neill is known for his man-management, while Roy is the plain-speaking one. Roy will have to live with himself for the comments he made about the FAI and John Delaney, but Martin is strategic enough to keep Roy away from the suits.”

Murphy believes the timing is perfect in O’Neill’s career for him to spearhead Ireland’s quest to reach the Euro 2016 finals.

“Martin is still hurt and bruised from his sacking at Sunderland last year,” explained Murphy, “but this challenge suits him. At 61, he was always going to be an international manager. The combination between Roy Keane and himself will be fascinating. They hold massive respect for each other.

“Both men have things to prove. Opposites attract. For O’Neill, it’s a risk worth taking to bring Keane on board. Despite the doubts I think this one won’t need the fastened seatbelts for a bumpy ride.”

Elsewhere, Paddy Power bookmakers are offering odds of 1/2 for Stephen Ireland to make his international return under O’Neill and Keane, while it’s 40/1 for the Irish squad to have a training camp in Saipan before the end of 2014.