Martin O’Neill heads Ireland shortlist to replace sacked Giovanni Trapattoni

Dublin: The Football Association of Ireland will seek talks with Martin O’Neill to discuss his interest in managing the Republic of Ireland following the dismissal of Giovanni Trapattoni in the wake of the country’s failure to qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil next year.

O’Neill, out of work since being sacked by Sunderland in March, is the favoured candidate among the FAI hierarchy to succeed Trapattoni, with the former Northern Ireland midfielder also understood to have the backing of Denis O’Brien, the Irish entrepreneur who partly funded Trapattoni’s £1 million-a-year contract during his five and a half year reign.

Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy, who guided Ireland to the 2002 World Cup finals, Norwich City’s Chris Hughton and Leeds United manager Brian McDermott will also be considered should they apply for the position.

In a surprise move, FAI chief executive John Delaney has admitted that Roy Keane, with whom he has endured a fractious relationship since the former Manchester United captain walked out on Ireland’s 2002 World Cup squad, is another name under consideration.

With the Republic due to conclude their World Cup qualifying campaign with games against Germany and Kazakhstan next month, the FAI could yet install a caretaker-manager for those fixtures before a wide-ranging interview process later this autumn.

Although O’Neill could be appointed quickly if he confirms his readiness to return to the game, Delaney has admitted that efforts will be made to assess interest in the position in the coming days. “It will be interesting to see who puts their best foot forward,” Delaney said. “I think names like Mick [McCarthy], Brian McDermott, Chris Hughton, Roy Keane all come into the pot, and Martin O’Neill of course.

“I think there will be plenty of interest because, first of all, 24 teams go to the European Championship [in 2016] and it is genuinely accepted that we have a good crop of young players. The board will meet within the next week and will determine a process. We do have time.”

While O’Neill is the strong favourite for the job, there remain concerns over his appetite for international management, which could open the door for McCarthy or Keane. McCarthy has previously made clear his interest in returning to the role he vacated in November 2002, while Keane has also expressed a willingness to manage his country. Keane’s combustible nature and his long-standing feud with Delaney would appear to mark the 42-year-old down as an outsider for the job. However, with the FAI determined to re-energise public interest in the Ireland team and ensure greater attendances at the Aviva Stadium, Keane remains a potential appointment.