An intriguing appointment, but not without risks

With Martin O'Neill now confirmed as the Irish senior team manager, it comes as a relief that the search was not a long, drawn-out affair, as it was in the wake of Kerr and Staunton's departures in 2005 and 2007. The friendlies against Latvia and Poland will give the new management team a decent opportunity to set a marker, and the winter should provide an adequate 'settling in' period for O'Neill and his assistants to familiarise themselves fully with the available talent, and get to grips with their various responsibilities. There should be no excuse for the new Irish team being 'caught cold' when the Euro 2016 qualifiers come around.

From the first, O'Neill was the outstanding candidate. With more club-level pedigree and a greater reputation than the likes of McCarthy, McDermott, O'Leary, Coyle or Hughton, he was certainly the best Irish option. While other non-Irish names were reportedly in the mix, there was no outstanding, realistic candidate among them - furthermore, Trapattoni showed, in his more eccentric moments, the risks of appointing a foreign manager from left-field for one last pay-day. 

However, in saying that, O'Neill's pedigree is mostly built on his time with Celtic, where he inspired the previously hapless Bhoys to three league titles in five years. With O'Neill at the helm, Celtic enjoyed a plethora of memorable European performances, including victories over Juventus, Barcelona, Ajax and Liverpool, and reaching the UEFA Cup Final in 2003. While overtaking the hugely dominant Rangers with a smaller budget was undoubtedly a feat, Scotland is not an adequate testing ground for players or managers to shine at a higher level. Take away O'Neill's Parkhead achievements, and his record is no more impressive than that of, say, the out-of-work Tony Pulis and Alan Curbishley. O'Neill boasts a couple of trophies and regular mid-table finishes with Leicester, guiding Aston Villa to a couple of above-average finishes, and - most recently - battling relegation with Sunderland. He is a good manager at EPL level, but hardly a miracle worker or a hugely 'technical' coach.

However, O'Neill is more than qualified to manage Ireland. Lets not forget that Giles and Staunton got the gig with no managerial experience, while Hand and Kerr got their shot off the back of their League of Ireland and under-age achievements. Jack Charlton had managed in the top flight of English football for only four of his twelve years in club football (in a very 'unsophisticated' era for the game) before taking the Ireland job, and Mick McCarthy had three-and-a-half seasons with Millwall in the second tier. O'Neill's achievements in the game eclipse all of his predecessors bar Trapattoni, and the Derry man will not bring the same eccentricity or communication issues, and he will hopefully work harder to evaluate (and even reinforce) the Irish playing pool. Every managerial appointment is a risk, and every record will be scrutinized at this level - but O'Neill is a big enough character, with a strong enough record, to withstand the cynicism of the average Irish punters (i.e. denizens of the RTE Sport comments section).

Speaking of these grumblings, a lot of the more heated debate has centred on the identity of his assistant. Roy Keane remains an intensely divisive figure in Irish football - for some, an honest, uncompromising champion of ambition and professionalism, with a track record as captain of both Ireland and Manchester United to back up that reputation. On the other hand, he is a flawed character; often seeming impulsive, severe, abrasive, brooding, distant, and lacking in the kind of compassion and humanity that we see from the best managers - characteristics that were his undoing at Sunderland and Ipswich. Compare the jovial, engaging, inclusive, nice-guy personality of Jurgen Klopp to the scowling bitterness of Keane, and it's clear that top-level football management has moved on from simple 'rule by intimidation'. Furthermore, international football is not the place to fall out with players, as Trapattoni learned. There is a dignity and tact required, which O'Neill will certainly bring - it remains to be seen how Keane's 'my way or the highway' approach will fit into the requirements of his job, particularly given the fact that O'Neill will have the final say on personnel and tactics.

Keane's actual role does warrant clarification, but it is certainly an exciting and intriguing appointment, which promises to entertain - on and off the pitch. This Irish team has a core of mostly young players - such as Clark, Coleman, Wilson, Gibson, Meyler, McCarthy, Brady, and Pilkington - who have yet to really 'find themselves' as internationals, nor put down a serious, consistent marker at this level. If Keane can channel some of his ferocity, knowledge and ambition in a constructive way on the training pitch, and O'Neill brings his famed man-management skills, this crop of players could really grow as international players and thrive. One thing is for sure - there will be no strops or petulant tweeting if players are left out.

There is certainly potential for unwanted drama, with Keane on board, but hopefully the entertainment will keep to the confines of the pitch, and Ireland - like the Celtic team of 2000 - can be shaken out of their slump.