O'Neill and Keane at Ireland helm

Martin O'Neill has been confirmed as the new Republic of Ireland manager and he will be assisted by former international captain Roy Keane.

The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) confirmed the news tonight, with the pair agreeing two-year deals. O'Neill, 61, replaces Giovanni Trapattoni, who stepped down in September with the Republic's FIFA World Cup elimination all but assured.

O'Neill, who was working alongside Keane on ITV's UEFA Champions League coverage tonight, said: "I think I'm the bad cop and he's the bad, bad cop." The 42-year-old Keane added: "I'm honoured Martin has asked me to work with him. I'm looking forward to working with the players and getting to the EUROs."

FAI president Paddy McCaul said: "This is a great appointment for Irish football. Martin was the board's preferred candidate from the outset and to have someone of the calibre of Roy Keane as his assistant manager is a real plus. I wish them every success for the coming campaign."

O'Neill, who will take charge for the friendlies against Latvia in Dublin on 15 November and away to Poland four days later, represented Northern Ireland as a player at the 1982 World Cup, having won two European Champion Clubs' Cups under Brian Clough at Nottingham Forest FC.

In club management his successes include three Scottish titles, three Scottish Cups and a UEFA Cup final appearance with Celtic FC, plus two English League Cup triumphs with Leicester City FC. He left his last post as Sunderland AFC boss in March, with Keane having also previously managed Sunderland and played for Clough at Forest in a stellar career.

Ireland's next competitive football will come in UEFA EURO 2016 qualifying next September, as they attempt to emulate their feat of reaching the 2012 final tournament under Trapattoni. The draw will take place in Nice on 23 February.