Ex-Ireland international Kenny Cunningham joined Adrian and Eoin on OTB AM this morning to assess John O'Shea's recent retirement from international football.
Cunningham, who played alongside O'Shea for the national team on many occasions, told OTB AM that as he's set to tog out for the last time in the Ireland-USA game he should be proud of his 117 caps, and how his final national game on June 2nd should be a cause for celebration for his storied international career.
As Eoin alluded to, O'Shea has been viewed as a utility player by some due to his playing across many different positions during his time with Ireland. However as Kenny pointed out, the respect among his peers never diminished because of this.
“For me it’s a time for celebration. Such an influential players within the squad, great character, someone who we should be proud of, both on a human level and from a professional point of view.
“If he gets some minutes on the pitch [against USA] it’s a time for celebration. I hope him and his family enjoy the day.”
“Well he’s certainly not underrated by his peers [on being a utility player]. Just in terms of his medals total was well, he’s one of the most successful Irish players of all time.”
The football chat then turned to coaching and asked by Adrian on whether Cunningham sees O'Shea joining the coaching ranks at Sunderland the former Birmingham defender said he could see it happening, but stressed that a lot of former players tend to go down a different route.
“Yeah, possibly. I think there’s many of those players who I’ve played with who have that capability and who haven’t for one reason or another who haven’t had that opportunity, maybe they’ve decided to go down a different path and that’s a little bit sad to be honest with you.
“There’s never that talk where’s the next body of coaches that are going to come in. There was a chance that Martin could have left, a couple of months ago, maybe take an opportunity back in England.
“If he’d have gone, he would have taken his whole coaching support team with him.
“What would have happened then? There would have been a massive void there, where would have been the conveyor belt of young potential new coaches, potential next Ireland manager, working a little bit further down, or around the senior group, who would just naturally step in.
“So there wouldn’t have been that big jolt in terms of the manager taking his whole manager staff away with him, where those players around the senior international team.
“The likes of your John O’Shea’s, whoever they are Damien Duff’s, Richard Dunne’s whoever they may be, who are just ready to step in, pick up the slack and move forward.
“I don’t quite see that at the moment [in regards to the conveyor belt of Irish coaches].”
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