Post by Taxigirl on Jan 10, 2006 10:18:11 GMT
www.sportinglife.com/football/international/republic/news
Steve Staunton and Sir Bobby Robson have both held talks with the Football Association of Ireland with a view to becoming the Republic's new managerial double act.
Staunton, lacking managerial experience, could be assisted by Robson - serving as a mentor to the former Republic of Ireland defender who is currently assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall.
Robson's role would be a full-time post. But the FAI are discussing the detail of what the former England, Barcelona and Newcastle boss' remit could be.
An FAI spokesman said: "The process is ongoing, with regard to a new managerial structure."
Should the duo be officially confirmed, their first game would be a Lansdowne Road friendly against Sweden on Wednesday March 1.
That will begin a six-month countdown to the start of the qualification programme for the 2008 European Championships.
Staunton is Ireland's most capped player, having made 102 appearances - including 16 as captain. He played in two World Cup finals, with his last game the second-round penalty shoot-out against Spain in South Korea three-and-a-half years ago.
His potential appointment would bring an end to a near three-month search for the FAI in the wake of Brian Kerr's dismissal.
Saddlers boss Merson said late last year he would not stand in Staunton's way if the international post was available.
"He is respected in Ireland, and I think the fans would want it," Merson told Sky Sports News.
"I'd back him. Everybody who plays football would love to manage their country one day - so if it came along then of course I'd let him go. No worries about that."
Staunton took the side of former Republic boss Mick McCarthy in the dispute with Roy Keane on the Pacific island of Saipan, which resulted in the then Manchester United player walking out on the Ireland squad just before the 2002 World Cup finals.
Keane has since retired from the international game, so there would be no potential personality clash.
Staunton joined Liverpool in September 1986 from Dundalk. He enjoyed two spells at Aston Villa, between 1991 and 1998 and 2000 and 2003, and returned to Anfield between July 1998 and December 2000.
The 36-year-old has also played for Bradford and Crystal Palace on loan, Coventry and Walsall.
Robson, in stark contrast to Staunton, has vast experience of management.
He cut his teeth at Fulham, whom he served as a player, before joining Ipswich in 1969 - leading the unfashionable Suffolk side to FA Cup success in 1978, two runners-up finishes in the old First Division and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981.
He took on the England job in 1982 and took his country to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Italy in 1990.
Robson moved on to PSV Eindhoven, had a successful stint in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup and returned to PSV before going back to his roots with Newcastle in 1999.
He brought about an upturn in the Tyneside club's fortunes, helping them qualify for the Champions League, but was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the 2004-05 campaign.
Robson, in stark contrast to Staunton, has vast experience of management.
He cut his teeth at Fulham, who he served as a player, before joining Ipswich in 1969, leading the unfashionable Suffolk side to FA Cup success in 1978, two runners-up finishes in the old First Division and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981.
He took on the England job in 1982 in succession to Ron Greenwood and managed under extreme pressure to take his country to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Italy in 1990.
Robson moved on to PSV Eindhoven, had a successful stint in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup and returned to PSV before going back to his roots with Newcastle in 1999.
He brought about an upturn in the Tyneside club's fortunes, helping them qualify for the Champions League, but was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the 2004-05 campaign.
Steve Staunton and Sir Bobby Robson have both held talks with the Football Association of Ireland with a view to becoming the Republic's new managerial double act.
Staunton, lacking managerial experience, could be assisted by Robson - serving as a mentor to the former Republic of Ireland defender who is currently assistant manager to Paul Merson at Walsall.
Robson's role would be a full-time post. But the FAI are discussing the detail of what the former England, Barcelona and Newcastle boss' remit could be.
An FAI spokesman said: "The process is ongoing, with regard to a new managerial structure."
Should the duo be officially confirmed, their first game would be a Lansdowne Road friendly against Sweden on Wednesday March 1.
That will begin a six-month countdown to the start of the qualification programme for the 2008 European Championships.
Staunton is Ireland's most capped player, having made 102 appearances - including 16 as captain. He played in two World Cup finals, with his last game the second-round penalty shoot-out against Spain in South Korea three-and-a-half years ago.
His potential appointment would bring an end to a near three-month search for the FAI in the wake of Brian Kerr's dismissal.
Saddlers boss Merson said late last year he would not stand in Staunton's way if the international post was available.
"He is respected in Ireland, and I think the fans would want it," Merson told Sky Sports News.
"I'd back him. Everybody who plays football would love to manage their country one day - so if it came along then of course I'd let him go. No worries about that."
Staunton took the side of former Republic boss Mick McCarthy in the dispute with Roy Keane on the Pacific island of Saipan, which resulted in the then Manchester United player walking out on the Ireland squad just before the 2002 World Cup finals.
Keane has since retired from the international game, so there would be no potential personality clash.
Staunton joined Liverpool in September 1986 from Dundalk. He enjoyed two spells at Aston Villa, between 1991 and 1998 and 2000 and 2003, and returned to Anfield between July 1998 and December 2000.
The 36-year-old has also played for Bradford and Crystal Palace on loan, Coventry and Walsall.
Robson, in stark contrast to Staunton, has vast experience of management.
He cut his teeth at Fulham, whom he served as a player, before joining Ipswich in 1969 - leading the unfashionable Suffolk side to FA Cup success in 1978, two runners-up finishes in the old First Division and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981.
He took on the England job in 1982 and took his country to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Italy in 1990.
Robson moved on to PSV Eindhoven, had a successful stint in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup and returned to PSV before going back to his roots with Newcastle in 1999.
He brought about an upturn in the Tyneside club's fortunes, helping them qualify for the Champions League, but was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the 2004-05 campaign.
Robson, in stark contrast to Staunton, has vast experience of management.
He cut his teeth at Fulham, who he served as a player, before joining Ipswich in 1969, leading the unfashionable Suffolk side to FA Cup success in 1978, two runners-up finishes in the old First Division and a UEFA Cup triumph in 1981.
He took on the England job in 1982 in succession to Ron Greenwood and managed under extreme pressure to take his country to the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals and the semi-finals in Italy in 1990.
Robson moved on to PSV Eindhoven, had a successful stint in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Porto, led Barcelona to the European Cup Winners' Cup and returned to PSV before going back to his roots with Newcastle in 1999.
He brought about an upturn in the Tyneside club's fortunes, helping them qualify for the Champions League, but was sacked in August 2004 after a poor start to the 2004-05 campaign.