The Stephen Kenny I know: A modern day patriot with an X factor

Republic of Ireland manager Stephen Kenny during a training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

A new era in Irish football gets underway in Sofia tonight but the man leading it will have a very old-school approach to the role.

I got to know Stephen Kenny reasonably well during his six seasons as Dundalk FC manager, covering the club at home and abroad as he took a side from the brink of extinction to the heights of the Europa League group stages.