Caretaker-boss Sean McCaffrey was officially confirmed as the new Republic of Ireland Under-17 and Under-19 manager at a press conference in Dublin today. The 44-year-old took over the position last January as Brian Kerr assumed the senior managerial role, and almost guided last season's U-19s to the European U-19 finals.
He has already seen this season's squad easily through to the second phase of the qualifiers, and was selected out of thirty candidates to take on the position. He was interviewed for the role by Brian Kerr, the FAI's Technical Director, Packie Bonner, and CEO Fran Rooney.
Afterwards, Monaghan-based McCaffrey admitted: "This job isn't a stepping stone onto something else. It's the pinnacle for me. It's a great honour and I think I'm well equipped to do a good job. Some players can go into management and have respect immediately but that will only last two or three weeks unless they have man management skills and can coach."
He added: "I see my job as player identification and player development. We need to be developing players from 12 and not losing them to other sports. The Technical Development Plan will make it clear what we've got to do there." McCaffrey's work begins next week with a fixture against France in Alencon.
Republic of Ireland Under-19 team news:
Newly appointed Republic of Ireland Under-19 manager Sean McCaffrey has remaiend faithful in consideration of the players named for the December 3 friendly against France in Alencon. He has named an 18-strong squad for the fixture, ahead of next year's European Championship second phase qualifying round against Norway, Belgium and Serbia and Montenegro.
Most of the players who qualified the Republic out of the first phase are named, but Bohemians' Stephen Ward Stephen Foley of Aston Villa both miss out due to injury while Willo Flood is in the UAE with the Under-20s.
Paul Murphy (Leicester City), Colin Doyle (Birmingham City), Christopher Deans (Derby County), Stephen O’Mahony (Limerick City), Patrick Flynn (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Paul McShane (Manchester United), Henry McStay (Leeds United), Gary Liddle (Middlesboro), Alan O’Brien (Newcastle United), Richie Ryan (Sunderland), Stephen O’Leary (Luton Town), Patrick Cregg (Arsenal), Paul Murphy (Manchester City), Mark Yeates (Tottenham Hotspur), Aidan McGeady (Celtic), Mark Quigley (Millwall), Gary Mulligan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Karl Bermingham (Manchester City).
Filed by Shane Murray
