Jack Byrne says he's thrilled to see former APOEL and Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy bouncing back in management with Cardiff, adding that Mick is a "great person, and a great man".
McCarthy has sprung Cardiff right up the Championship table since joining the club, having been sacked as manager of APOEL after just nine games in January.
His sacking came just one day after Jack Byrne's debut for, with the Irish international having joined from Shamrock Rovers.
Many feared for Byrne's selection prospects after the manager who signed him had been dismissed so abruptly, but speaking at the launch of Spar's FAI School Zone, Byrne says McCarthy was not the only reason he chose to move to Cyprus.
"Mick obviously had an input on who he wanted to bring to the club but it was more the president and sporting director here that my agent was dealing with. They showed an interest in bringing me to the club. They knew APOEL wasn't my only option. The brought a plan to us, and the conversation I was having with them showed me they really wanted me and APOEL really wanted me, and they were going to be supportive and they have been so supportive of me since I've been here," he says.
"Obviously I love Mick. Mick gave me my international debut. Terry Connor was also a big decision in me going with Mick. Terry was such a help with Ireland, pulling me after training sessions, showing me videos, saying, 'listen Jack, you're the best player in Ireland, but it's not good enough to just be the best player in Ireland, this is what you need to improve.'
"From that information that Terry was giving me, that attention to detail to my game to try and improve me, I can't thank Terry enough as well," he added.
The midfielder is currently sidelines for the foreseeable future after having surgery on a herniated disk.
And Byrne says a phonecall from Mick McCarthy just before his surgery shows the type of man his former boss is.
"Unfortunately I couldn't work with them for longer, because you've seen how well they're doing at Cardiff. It's great and I'm absolutely delighted for them. It shows the sign of Mick that before I went in for my operation they gave me a phone call, they didn't have to do that. Mick; a great person and a great man. Terry; a great person and a great man."
Jack Byrne on Anthony Barry
Byrne will obviously miss the Republic of Ireland's World Cup qualifiers later this month, with Stephen Kenny set to welcome in some new members of his coaching team in the form of Dean Kiely and Anthony Barry.
Barry's arrival follows the controversial departure of Damien Duff, and Byrne says his past experience of Barry at Wigan gives him great confidence in the FAI's appointment.
"Damien will be missed because he's a good person, with great experience, he's played in a World Cup and scored in a World Cup.
"He was very helpful with me, a younger player coming through. Damien will be successful in whatever he does, because he has that drive. You don't win Premier Leagues without that drive.
"I also know they're getting an unbelievable coach in Anthony Barry. I had Anthony Barry at Wigan for a couple of weeks when I was there. He was very good to me, very helpful, really nice person, a scouser, very funny! But a different coach to Damien, so I think he'll do really well there, I think he'll help, I think the lads will love him.
"The lads are going to love everyone who comes in because everyone is fighting for the same thing. Everyone wants Ireland to qualify for the World Cup. If it's Damien, brilliant, the lads loved him. If it's Anthony, I know they'll love Anthony. The lads are going to buy into everything because you want to win games. I'm actually really looking forward to watching the games.
"I've seen the ideas Stephen wants to implement and it's exciting for Irish football," he added.
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