Not many people would take on Keane as a No 2 but O'Neill can make it work brilliantly

By Kevin Kilbane

PUBLISHED: 18:03 EST, 5 November 2013 | UPDATED: 18:06 EST, 5 November 2013


There aren’t many managers who would be brave enough to take Roy Keane on as their No 2.

But if anyone can do it, can pull this off, and do what will be best for the future of the Republic of Ireland football team, it is Martin O’Neill.

There aren’t many times since retiring a year ago that I have wished I was still part of the Ireland squad. But I certainly do now.

Good times: Kevin Kilbane believes that having Martin O'Neill (left) and Roy Keane in charge is exciting

Good times: Kevin Kilbane believes that having Martin O'Neill (left) and Roy Keane in charge is exciting

With these two huge personalities at the helm, it will be exciting times again in Ireland. And it promises to be a brilliant period for players, and the supporters, starting next week.

As a fan myself, I would have been more than happy that a figure and a great manager like O’Neill will be in charge of the Ireland team for the Euro 2016 campaign. That would have done for me. But to secure Roy Keane as his assistant too is a masterstroke. And the FAI deserve a great deal of credit for being brave enough to agree to it.

Old school: Kevin Kilbane (right) with Keane in 2001

Old school: Kevin Kilbane (right) with Keane in 2001

O’Neill is ideal for the Ireland job. He has had great success as a player and manager and this is probably the right time for him to move into international management, although I am pretty sure he will have tempted to take one last club job just to prove the Sunderland debacle was a one-off.

But as I’ve said before, Wearside can be a graveyard for managers and many have tried and failed to get it right there.

He is a character, a strong personality and a very good manager who knows how to get the best out of players.

But bringing Roy to the team adds a whole new dimension to the new era because we are talking about arguably the biggest name in Irish football history.

This is a fantastic opportunity for Roy to get back into management and, if he is prepared to wait, and learn from Martin, he could be the eventual successor and future Ireland manager. That will really depend on Roy.

For all his bravado – and there are few harsher TV pundits around – I am sure Roy will be apprehensive about how he will be perceived by the players when they meet up for the first time next week.

And there will be some among the squad, and the support staff, who will be just as nervous about coming face to face with him again.

But this is a time for us all to look to the future, and not be bogged down by the past.

The players will look up to him for what he achieved on the pitch and for his standing in the game. It is Martin’s job to control his assistant, and everything around them. And he’s not daft. He knows what he is taking on and the interest it has created. I am sure he can handle it and they have had conversations already about how their different roles will be defined.

Back in the day: O'Neill, while at Aston Villa, shakes hands with Keane, at Sunderland

Back in the day: O'Neill, while at Aston Villa, shakes hands with Keane, at Sunderland

My first meeting with Roy came when I made my debut for Ireland as a 20-year-old and I encountered two sides of his personality.

On the first day of training, we were doing the usual circle, keeping possession, with one or two lads running round in the middle, trying to win the ball back. Roy kept belting the ball at me at 100 miles per hour. It was virtually impossible for me to control and the ball ended up miles away. Roy stood impassive, looked unimpressed, but you could see a slight smile in there too.

A few days later – I’d made my debut against Iceland, played pretty poorly and been substituted at half-time – Roy took time to talk to me when we’d gone away to Lithuania. I was pretty despondent in Vilnius, convinced my international career was over before it had even begun – but he was there with me on the walks, spending time with me, talking about my career, life at West Brom, my upbringing, anything but that game in Iceland. He impressed me with his encyclopaedic knowledge of the game and the time he took to look out for me as the new kid.

We were never close in the Ireland squad – I don’t think anyone was although Graham Kavanagh became his room-mate – but he was good company and good fun. And of course we all looked up to him because of his achievements and his presence on the pitch. You wanted him to be there and to be fit for any competitive games.

Big hand: Kilbane says Keane was helpful when he was starting off his Ireland career

Big hand: Kilbane says Keane was helpful when he was starting off his Ireland career

Saipan and his absence from the 2002 World Cup Finals will never be forgotten of course. It sent shockwaves throughout the world, and Ireland is probably still split on the subject now.

But the hatchet was buried when Brian Kerr recalled him to the squad, and that should not be overlooked. Brian recognised that a world class player was not playing for Ireland. And having played alongside Roy in central midfield, he really was world class. And he still carried an air of authority and self-belief that few players have.

There are other issues for the FAI and the new management duo to address. I’d still like to see ex-players and internationals involved and brought in to help at all ages, and we need to work at the grassroots to improve the development of young Irish players.

But there are potentially exciting times with O’Neill and Keane in charge. It’s a great time to be a player, a young fan and an Irishman.

Off to a good start: The pair were in action providing punditry for ITV on Tuesday night

Off to a good start: The pair were in action providing punditry for ITV on Tuesday night

 

More...



Comments (15)

Share what you think

 View all

The comments below have not been moderated.

Glad Roy has been re-homed. As long as you stop him from jumping up he should be okay and not savage anybody.

0
3
 Click to rate

I was so excited when MON was given Sunderland job. However my little sister mentioned once he didn't attend many training sessions and he didn't have his usual no 2 at the club. It of course could be rumour but I hear the fans were aware of this. Well maybe Keano has been employed for that reason. !

1
0
 Click to rate

Don't think this pairing will work,O'Neill had better wear a stab proof vest.

3
7
 Click to rate

I hope that Keane has matured a bit since his playing days because he had no man management skills then. He didn't exactly cover himself in glory in club management either and I am, frankly, wondering what Martin O'Neil thinks he can add to his own skills. Certainly, until Sunderland, O'Neil seemed to have discovered the formula for successful management. What can he learn from Roy Keane?

2
4
 Click to rate

When O'Neill managed Leics. City he enjoyed great success and would have aimed to be Ferguson's successor. Since the failure at Sunderland he needed to 'disappear' and manage abroad to restore his credibility. The Irish job is a safer bet than for example the Palace job ; this move is to restore his c.v. ; Keane's problem is that he quickly becomes contemptuous of players wlth average ability being paid too well in his eyes. problem is

0
4
 Click to rate

Keane is a nasty man with a nasty attitude. He won't take being second fiddle and will resign then take his dog on a series of punishing walks.......poor dog

12
21
 Click to rate

How will Keane react, if and when an Irish player states 'I don't do Friendlies'.

0
18
 Click to rate

If this doesn't work it will fail big time .

1
11
 Click to rate

and when it does work...it will be just great for managers, players and fans......

6
9
 Click to rate

I love it for Keano himself. Hope he learn a few man management skills from O'N and one day return to MUFC as manager

8
12
 Click to rate

Ha Ha Ha! Dilusional. Shouldn't be allowed back into football at all

12
10
 Click to rate

another powder keg sitting just waiting to explode, Keane has way too much baggage after Saipan,..the Hatchet has been far from buried, Delaney said he spoke with Roy for about 30 seconds this week and it went well....30 seconds???.....this will get really really ugly, Keane has unfinished business with the board of the FAI, comments he made recently showed his detest of them is as fresh as ever,,...Ya, its goin to get ugly!!!

5
12
 Click to rate

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

We are no longer accepting comments on this article.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now