O’Shea looks to future as international career ends

John O’Shea will call time on his 17-year Republic of Ireland career with one eye already on a move into management.

The 37-year-old Sunderland defender will make his 118th and last senior appearance for his country against the United States at the Aviva Stadium today having already indicated he would like another season in club football when his deal at the Stadium of Light expires at the end of the month.

O’Shea, who cut his teeth in professional football under the watchful eye of then Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, has revealed there have been no talks yet with the new regime on Wearside – and, as he waits, developments, management and coaching are on the horizon.

He said: “It’s something I’ve been preparing for over the last three or four years during the summer, taking my coaching licence with the FAI.

“But it’s a long road and it’s a sometimes treacherous road too, as I have learned the last few seasons.”

Back-to-back relegations with Sunderland have provided a stark contrast to his trophy-laden years at Old Trafford, but O’Shea believes that can only be a help.

He said: “I’m sure if you do go down the managerial route or the coaching route, you’ll experience the exact same, plenty of ups and plenty of downs, trying hopefully to keep that levelness about you when you do get the success and failures hit you at different stages. “It’s how you bounce back from it.” In the meantime, a player who tasted European Championship glory with Ireland at under-16 level before making his senior debut against Croatia in 2001, will reflect upon an international career which has taken him to the finals of Euro 2012 and 2016 and left fond memories.