Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane have landed a $10 million jackpot to lead the Irish soccer team.
O’Neill will be appointed as Giovanni Trapattoni’s successor on a four year deal on Tuesday.
The former Celtic, Aston Villa and Sunderland manager will earn almost $2 million a year, much of it funded by businessman Denis O’Brien.
Keane, famously sent home from the 2002 World Cup by Mick McCarthy after criticising his new employers at the FAI, will command over $500,000 a year as O’Neill’s assistant.
The appointments will be rubberstamped at an FAI board meeting on Tuesday.
O’Neill and Keane will be in the dug-out for the friendly against Latvia at the Aviva Stadium on Friday week and for the trip to Poland four days later.
One man who knows both men well, having played for O’Neill and with Keane, is the Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
"It’ll be very interesting. They’re two great characters with a vast knowledge of the game, two very proud men as well - God help the players!" said Lennon, according to RTE.
“I’m surprised because I didn’t realise there was a connection between the two but Roy has a great knowledge of the game, he was a magnificent player, one of the best of his generation and he’ll lift any team walking into that dressing room.”
“Roy will have the players on their toes, as will Martin and it’ll be exciting to watch.”
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