O’Shea in mix to be Ireland boss, says Coleman

Seamus Coleman is confident former teammate John O’Shea has made a case for himself in the race to succeed Stephen Kenny as Republic of Ireland manager.

The 35-year-old Everton defender returned to the international stage after a year’s absence when interim boss O’Shea selected him in his squad for the friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland and then started him as captain in both games.

Coleman made his Ireland debut alongside O’Shea against Wales in February 2011 and the pair played together for their country until the former Manchester United man retired from international football in June 2018.

Asked about the vacancy and the 42-year-old’s chances of filling it after Tuesday night’s 1-0 defeat by the Swiss, Coleman said: “I don’t want to sound like someone who’s played a couple of games for the manager and I am doing all I can to get him in but, being completely honest, the way he has conducted himself, how impressive he has been...

“My time will be up soon, but going forward for the future – so it’s not on a personal level – I think the way he’s carried himself, the work that he, (coaches) Paddy (McCarthy) and Glenn (Whelan) have done behind the scenes has been really impressive.

“I think he will be in the running. I have no idea, but why not be in the running for it? I’d be delighted for him.”

The search for Kenny’s replacement – he was relieved of his duties in November – has extended to four months, although the Football Association of Ireland’s director of football Marc Canham has indicated that an announcement will come early next month.