Kerr confirmed as new Irish boss

Brian Kerr will be unveiled as the Republic of Ireland's new manager tomorrow in Dublin.

Contract details
"I can confirm that Brian Kerr is the new manager," said an FAI spokesman. "No more details will be released until tomorrow." The 49-year-old Dubliner has been the highly successful coach of Ireland's youth teams for the past six years. Details of Kerr's contract will be revealed at a press conference in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel.

Youth success
Kerr's first match in charge will be a friendly against Scotland at Hampden Park on 12 February. It was his prodigious success at youth levels that earned Kerr the job ahead of the likes of Bryan Robson, Peter Reid and John Aldridge. He guided Ireland to third place in the FIFA World Youth Championship in Malaysia in 1997 and the following year delivered Ireland's first international success, winning the UEFA European Under-16 and Under-18 Championships - a double that remains unique in UEFA history.

Club post
The Dubliner first came to prominence as part of Liam Tuohy's coaching team that guided the Republic of Ireland to the semi-finals of the World Youth Championship in 1984. He was appointed coach of Saint Patrick's Athletic FC in 1986 and led the Dublin club to an unprecedented spell of success including two league titles.

Guiding hand
Kerr left St Pat's in 1997 to become coach of the Republic's U16 and U18 sides and later became the FAI's technical director, although he remained in charge of the country's youth set-up. While guiding Irish teams to eight major final tournaments in five years, he helped to develop a number of current senior international players including Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Steve Finnan and John O'Shea.