'I think they have the perfect man in charge' - Didi Hamann

Didi Hamann believes that the FAI already has the right man in place to take Ireland into the upcoming UEFA Nations League campaign.

The former Liverpool midfielder believes that Ireland have the makings of a good team and he feels that John O'Shea is in the perfect position to lead the squad into the upcoming competitive fixtures in September.

Speaking after Ireland’s 2-1 victory over Hungary on Tuesday night, Hamann, who was working as a pundit for RTE Sport at the match, stressed the importance of the seeing the team return to winning ways following Stephen Kenny’s tenure in charge.

Hamann feels that O’Shea can bring back the feelgood factor and build a strong relationship with both the team and the supporters, which is crucial for a small nation looking to qualify for major tournaments.

"You look at the players smiling, the manager smiling, look at the fans, they haven’t had it in a long time," said Hamann, following the last-minute victory at Lansdowne Road.

"Coming to the Aviva over the last few years has been like going to the dentist, because you know you are going home with pain.

"This is so refreshing to see. The game wasn’t the best, but we shouldn’t forget that some of these guys haven’t played for three or four weeks and it’s not an easy thing to keep yourself fit.

"It’s about results, they worked hard for it. It wasn’t the most entertaining to watch but they kept digging in against a team that hasn’t been beaten in such a long time, and it gives everyone confidence.

"Let’s hope it is the start of something good."

And Hamann believes the best course of action for the Republic of Ireland is to maintain the momentum that the manager has been building within the squad since taking over on an interim basis in March.

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