5 Reasons Why The O'Neill/Keane Dream Ticket Has Its Risks For Ireland

by Gerard Walton
Martin O€™Neill€™s appointment as the new Republic Of Ireland manager is one that has set tongues wagging across the country. That may seem strange to some observers, as O€™Neill is one of the UK€™s most highly respected managers, but his choice of Roy Keane as assistant is one that raises several questions.

The news was officially broken during ITV's coverage of Real Sociedad's clash with Manchester United this week, and an initial two-year deal has been agreed with both men. The length of this contract is ideal as it allows job security for throughout the attempt to reach Euro 2016, yet also an easy way out should the duo of Keane and O'Neill fail to meet expectations.

This is a recognition by the FAI of the dangers of such a bold move. While football has seen some strange management teams work throughout history, this one has some challenges to overcome.

Contributor
Contributor

I am from Bangor, aged 24, and possess an MA in Journalism from The University Of Ulster. I have had work published in the Belfast Telegraph and interviewed several local footballers and Olympic athletes. I also run my own sports blog, 'Sporting Thought' in addition to contributing to What Culture.