Damien Duff, Stephen McPhail, Keith Andrews and Mark Kinsella are to all join Irish underage teams as coaches in a bid by the FAI to get former internationals to pass their knowledge on to younger generations.
According to the Irish Independent, Duff will work with the Under-15s. McPhail, who is the only active player involved in the scheme will be involved in the Under-16 set up. Andrews joins the Under-17 side and Kinsella who has managed a non-league level in England and with Drogheda United will work with the Under-21 group.
The four internationals have a combined 193 caps between them with Duff and Kinsella playing together at the 2002 World Cup. Ten years later Andrews and Duff played together at Euro 2012.
McPhail still plays for Shamrock Rovers. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
The FAI's High Performance Ruud Dokter revealed the deals are only for a year and follow a similar scheme run last year where Kenny Cunningham and Kinsella worked with the Under-15 and Under-16 teams.
Duff and McPhail are both involved in Shamrock Rovers' youth setups. Duff played for the first team last year and McPhail is still involved with the first team.
Dokter revealed; "They are both very committed, very driven. Keith and Mark are the same. They want to be involved and we have to facilitate that - that's an obligation on the FAI as well, to facilitate coaches who want to have a career and have had great success as players and done lot for the country."
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