Damien Duff has been confirmed as one of Stephen Kenny’s assistant managers with the Republic of Ireland senior team, while John O'Shea has been confirmed as coming into the under-21s.

Less than 24 hours after Off The Ball exclusively broke the news that Mick McCarthy’s reign as Republic of Ireland manager was over, new manager Kenny has moved quickly to put together a new backroom team.

Keith Andrews is to move with Kenny from the under-21s to the men's senior side and will be joined as Kenny’s assistant by Damien Duff.

Duff has spent the last 15 months at Celtic where he is currently first-team coach. It is as yet unclear whether Duff will leave Celtic or look to combine the two roles.

Football Association of Ireland (FAI) CEO Gary Owens confirmed the details of the new managerial set up in an interview with FAI.ie:

“The calibre of Stephen Kenny’s backroom team is top class and these are great additions to our senior team coaching staff,” said Owens to FAI.ie.

“Keith and Damien served Ireland so well as players and their experience will be such an addition to our senior squad’s support team.

“Keith and Stephen have worked brilliantly together with the Under-21 squad and Damien, currently finishing his UEFA Pro Licence with the FAI’s Coach Education department, has impressed everyone with his coaching skills and his switch from world class player to coach.

“Alan knows international football inside and was part of the squad at two World Cup finals. He is highly regarded as a coach with Premier League side Everton and has huge experience with Ireland.

"Together, Keith, Damien and Alan have so much to offer Stephen and his players as we look forward to the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Offs, the Nations League and the World Cup qualifiers.”

While the change to the managerial setup is also expected to see Jim Crawford succeed Kenny as under-21s manager, John O'Shea has been brought into the setup.

“Everyone at the FAI is delighted with Jim’s promotion to manager from assistant and he has a great number two now in John O’Shea as he takes the next step on his coaching career,” added Owens.

Andrews and Crawford

Crawford has worked alongside Keith Andrews as Kenny’s assistant with the underage side for the current European Championship qualification campaign.

Crawford and Andrews have been hailed by Kenny as having been instrumental to the heralded playing style and results of the under-21s.

Kenny said of the pair as they were appointed to the under-21s setup:

"I'm delighted with the overall backroom team. You know, I'm quite excited by it," said the former Dundalk manager.

"Obviously, Keith Andrews and Jim Crawford, they're very dynamic people - good positive people.

"I've known Jim a while and he's had great experience at international coaching. He went through the age groups and also been the manager of the 18s team in the last couple of years.

"Keith has been coaching as well with MK Dons and also with the Under-17, Under-18 international teams. He is someone that has an awful lot to offer, I feel.

"Both of them, I feel, have a lot to offer and we will need that throughout the campaign."

There is as yet no news regarding Robbie Keane's position in the FAI setup, with clarification expected this week.

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