John O'Shea joins Kenny backroom team as assistant coach

Former Republic of Ireland captain John O'Shea has been added to Stephen Kenny's management team a month away from the beginning of the Euro 2024 qualification campaign.

Having worked with Jim Crawford's Under-21 management set-up since April 2020, O'Shea will take on the role of assistant coach with the senior set-up.

O'Shea currently works as a coach at Stoke City, a post in which he is expected to continue while fulfilling his international role. He was previously employed as a coach at Reading.

There has been a vacancy in the senior set-up since John Eustace left to take the Birmingham City job.

Eustace was preceded in the role by Anthony Barry, who departed in early 2022 to join Roberto Martinez's backroom team at Belgium, subsequently following Martinez to Portugal after a disappointing World Cup.

"We're delighted to welcome John to the senior international coaching team," said Stephen Kenny.

"John had a brilliant career playing for Ireland right through from U15 to earning 118 caps for his country. Following that, he has committed himself to a career in coaching, working with both Reading and Stoke City for almost four years now.

"He has also combined that with a full campaign with the Ireland U21s team under Jim Crawford and I have watched his progress closely as he made a positive contribution throughout his time with the team.

"John will now make the transition into the senior coaching team where he knows the team well and we look forward to John joining our staff for the Latvia and France matches in March."

"I'm delighted to join the Ireland senior international team coaching staff and looking forward to working with Stephen and the rest of the backroom team when the campaign begins in March," said John O'Shea.

"It was