Kerr will hold all-encompassing role in O'Shea's ticket
A series of milestones around Ireland managers fall this weekend but the most momentous must be redemption for Brian Kerr.
Friday was significant for marking the 100th day of this search to secure the latest Ireland manager.
March 1 was also Martin O’Neill’s 72nd birthday and the 18th anniversary of Stephen Staunton opening his tenure with a blistering 3-0 over Sweden.
Kerr himself celebrates his 71st birthday on Sunday and he’ll do so in the knowledge his 19-year exile from the FAI is belatedly over.
Cynics will argue his installation as technical advisor to caretaker boss John O’Shea is mere window-dressing and a dose of populism by an FAI hierarchy in dire need of goodwill. Public scepticism is rife at this prolonged chase and a chaotic visit to Government buildings last week.
What can’t be disputed is if the FAI hold any chance of turning Lee Carsley’s head for their self-declared early April permanent appointment, the role of Kerr in this temporary arrangement will be crucial.
He’s renowned for his all-or-nothing personality. Although there was vagueness to his initial job description as he outlined yesterday, the 70-year-old will doubtless be immersed in all aspects from scouting to in-game tactics.
Kerr was one of the first pundits to scrutinise the reign of Stephen Kenny, someone he’d previously provided a gateway into international football as a guest coach on an U16 trip abroad to Israel in 2000.
Never one to tolerate spin, he recurrently cited facts when the under-pressure manager opted to highlight peripheral matters to results in trying to justify his continuity.
“I’ve an opportunity to help bring back some of the enthusiasm that could have been lost over the last while,” said Kerr, emphasising the
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