Troussier linked with Ireland job

Former Japan manager Philippe Troussier is the latest name to be linked with the vacant managerial position in the Irish national team.

Reports in France say the FAI wants to meet Troussier to discuss his possible availability as a replacement for Mick McCarthy.

The Frenchman is recovering from a knee operation and is expected to reveal his future plans shortly.

Troussier has already turned down an offer to manage China's national team and said he will not be returning to Asia.

Troussier has spent most of his managerial career in Africa, where he led club side ASEC Abidjan to three Ivory Coast league titles before going on the take charge of the country's national team.

After further spells in South Africa and Morocco, he then guided Nigeria to the 1994 World Cup finals and brought Burkina Faso to fourth place in the African Nations Cup.

The Frenchman managed South Africa at the 1998 World Cup finals then moved to Japan, where he led the national team to victory at the 2000 Asian Championships, fifth place in the Sydney Olympics and the second round of the World Cup finals earlier this year.