Done deal… finally.
Martin O’Neill has confirmed that he will remain as manager of the Irish soccer team until the end of the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, with Roy Keane as his assistant.
A new contract for the Irish management team has been in the offing since before the Euros in the summer, but the fact that nothing official had been signed led to some uncertainty surrounding their futures.
At a press conference on Friday announcing the squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Moldova, however, O’Neill confirmed that he and his backroom team had signed contracts up until the end of the qualifying campaign for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.
Martin O'Neill: I have signed a new deal. It was never an issue. Roy and the backroom staff have followed suit. We're delighted. #COYBIG
— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) September 23, 2016
As for the squad itself, there were senior call-ups for Falkirk goalkeeper Danny Rogers and for Conor Hourihane, who has put in several impressive displays for Barnsley of late.
Ireland take on Georgia at the Aviva Stadium on Thursday, October 6 before travelling to take on Moldova on Sunday, October 9 in Chisinau.
Republic of Ireland Squad
Goalkeepers: Darren Randolph (West Ham United), Keiren Westwood (Sheffield Wednesday), Danny Rogers (Falkirk*)
Defenders: Seamus Coleman (Everton), Cyrus Christie, Richard Keogh, Alex Pearce (Derby County) Paul McShane (Reading), John O’Shea (Sunderland), Shane Duffy (Brighton & Hove Albion), Ciaran Clark (Newcastle United), Marc Wilson (Bournemouth), Stephen Ward (Burnley)
Midfielders: Aiden McGeady (Preston North End*), James McClean (West Bromwich Albion), Glenn Whelan (Stoke City), James McCarthy (Everton), Jeff Hendrick (Burnley), Stephen Quinn (Reading), David Meyler (Hull City), Conor Hourihane (Barnsley), Harry Arter (Bournemouth), Eunan O’Kane (Leeds United), Stephen Gleeson (Birmingham City), Callum O’Dowda (Bristol City), Robbie Brady, Wes Hoolahan (Norwich City), Anthony Pilkington (Cardiff City), Jonathan Hayes (Aberdeen)
Forwards: Shane Long (Southampton), Daryl Murphy (Newcastle United), Jonathan Walters (Stoke City), Kevin Doyle (Colorado Rapids)
*Indicates player is currently on loan
