Kerr gets Ireland job

Brian Kerr has been appointed as the Republic of Ireland’s new manager.

The 49-year-old Dubliner had previously been the highly successful boss of the Republic’s youth team for the past six years.

Details of Kerr’s contract will be unveiled at a press conference in Dublin’s Shelbourne Hotel tomorrow.

Kerr’s first match in charge of the Republic will be a friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park on February 12.

It is widely expected that Chris Hughton will be his part-time assistant.

Kerr, who steered Ireland youth team to European titles at under-18 and under-16 level, has landed the job ahead of the likes of Bryan Robson, Peter Reid and John Aldridge.

It is understood that Kerr won a 2-1 vote from an FAI selection panel, to get the job ahead of former Middlesbrough boss Robson.

Among the other high profile candidates who applied were former Sunderland boss Reid, former Manchester United centre-half Kevin Moran, former Tranmere boss Aldridge, and Frenchman Philippe Troussier, Japan’s manager at the World Cup finals.

Kerr was responsible for first introducing Robbie Keane, John O’Shea and Damien Duff to the international scene.

And last week his latest batch of under-20s won the four-nation tournament in Abu Dhabi against host nation United Arab Emirates, South Korea and France.

Kerr’s charges are due to return the United Arab Emirates in March-April for the Under-20 World Cup finals, which England have also qualified for.