Seamus Coleman believes that John O'Shea has "all the materials" to be the Ireland manager, and possesses the perfect temperament to take charge of the national team.
O’Shea was named interim manager of Ireland while the FAI continues to look for a replacement for Stephen Kenny, who left the position in November.
And while the association claims to have a permanent candidate lined up to take charge of the side from April, the captain believes that Irish football is privileged to have someone of O’Shea’s stature involved.
Coleman’s playing career overlapped with O’Shea’s and the Ireland stalwart appears well placed to comment on the interim manager’s ability, and his suitability to his new role.
And the Everton defender did not hold back in praising the attributes of his former team-mate, as he believes that O’Shea is the perfect man for the job for the next two games, while suggesting that the FAI would be very fortunate to keep him involved beyond the upcoming fixtures.
"I don't want to sound like Jake here trying to get in the team!" laughed Coleman, when asked about O’Shea, referencing Jake O’Brien’s comments about looking up to the Manchester United man as a youngster.
"When I came in as a player and the manager was a player at the time, he was someone we all looked up to. For the simple things like the standards around the place, the respect he had for people around the place. It's something I have tried to carry through to the younger players as I got older.
"I have massive respect for the manager and I'm delighted for him to get the opportunity. I know how proud he was to come in as a player, so I can't imagine how proud he is now to lead his national team as a manager.
"Having this man involved with Ireland is a privilege. The people inside the camp really understand how important it is to have someone like the manager involved.
"I think the manager has the right temperament for the job. I know from speaking to the younger players who have come into the squad how much they are enjoying their time with the manager in the underage set-up and how welcome he made them feel, getting involved with them and wanting to find out about them.
"He has all the materials to be the Ireland manager and we have Saturday and Tuesday to think about now. Personally speaking, I am delighted for the manager."
"The manager and his staff have been very intense with the detail and very good and we’ve enjoyed it, it’s been really good," added Coleman.
"Friendlies or competitive games, it doesn’t matter; see when you put on that green shirt, it’s like a World Cup final every time, because we’re that proud to play for our country."
O’Shea said on Wednesday that he believes that the young players have really come on since Stephen Kenny handed them their debuts and feels that they are close to finding that winning streak following a tough and unsuccessful Euro 2024 campaign.
And Coleman was also in agreement with the interim boss, saying that he has seen an obvious improvement in the young players since his last involvement with the international side 12 months ago.
"I’ve definitely seen the growth in the young players from when they first came in to now," said Coleman.
"A couple of the lads, even in training yesterday, just to see the standards that they have now compared to maybe when they came in, that’s all part of the growth of getting used to the group.
"I think it stands us well going forward. These lads now need to step up and get a real understanding of winning games. I’ve only been to one tournament, but ultimately that’s where we all want to be, that’s got to be the aim.
"That’s when you feel like you have really arrived on the international stage and that’s what we all crave. The young lads now need to grow as the games come on and really take it on and really have a strong understanding of how important this always is to us, which they do, to be fair."
Coleman, of course, is in line to play his first game back in the green since March of last year, where he featured in the slender 1-0 home defeat to France, and while he is delighted to be back for this particular window, he is hoping that his form will allow him to extend further his international career into the Nations League campaign and beyond.
"It’s always tough watching on, and to see the team not doing so well is always very tough. I’ve been there when I’ve been fit and a part of teams that aren’t doing well so I know how it feels.
"It always hurts us when we play for our national team and it doesn’t go to plan but personally speaking, I was kind of tunnel vision towards getting fit, working very hard to get fit.
"I was just completely focused on getting back fit. Obviously, I watch for the lads and care for the lads when I’m not here, but I had full focus on trying to get back to play at this level.
"In terms of coming back, it’s hard to walk away from something that you really love.
"I have to be honest with myself as well. I’ve always said if I felt in training back at Everton that people were skipping past me and that it didn’t feel right, I’d have to have a good, hard look at myself.
"The games I’ve played in this year, I’ve felt good. I’ve played against some good wingers this season and I’ve felt good, I’ve felt strong.
"I’ll be honest with myself when that time comes, but for as long as I can, I won’t say no to my national team, absolutely not."
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