https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/international-soccer/i-have-the-absolute-heig
Stephen Kenny says he has "respect" for Robbie Keane but insists that he was entitled to bring Keith Andrews on board as assistant manager with the senior Ireland team, which meant no role for Keane.
Kenny also said today he has the utmost faith in his backroom team of Keith Andrews and Damien Duff but has not yet been able to speak to Robbie Keane about the lack of a role for him on Kenny's coaching staff, saying that "contractual issues" prevented him from a one-on-one chat with Keane.
The new Ireland manager added that his set-up will not be a closed shop as he hopes to revitalise the international career of players like Robbie Brady and Matt Doherty - and he also hopes all schoolboy teams in the country will want to play like his senior Republic of Ireland side.
Speaking to the media today for the first time since Saturday's appointment Kenny said:
that the Ireland job was "the dream job"
he wants every schoolboy side in Ireland to want to play in the same style as his senior team
he won't pick his team based solely on the number of minutes played by players at club level.
he had been watching games in the Championship, pre-coronavirus, to assess the squad he would inherit
captain Seamus Coleman is the only member of the current senior squad he has spoken to since taking the job
he will consider home-based players for selection but added that appearances in European competition will carry extra weight
he expects to play the Euro 2020 playoff against Slovakia in October
Kenny says he will speak to members of the current squad in turn as he felt it was "only right" to just speak to Seamus Coleman in his role as captain, but he feels there is a lot more in Robbie Brady and Matt Doherty, while he's a big fan of John Egan.
"I think there is a good group coming through, we are not relying on one or two individuals but we also have a lot of quality within our senior squad at the moment," Kenny said
"Our back four have been very consistent. The addition of John Egan into the back four changes the dynamic of the back four, rather than having two traditional No. 5s ,that changes everything, how you play. Raiding full backs and a the composition of the back four, that gives you a great platform to go and build the rest.
"We have a lot of talented players. It's difficult to know why, for example, someone like Robbie Brady was three years ago our most creative player and now at times hasn't got into the 22, how has that happened? My job is to try and unlock the potential of the whole team and find the best way of doing that, that's how I see my job."
Kenny said he would consider new roles for his players.
"Going back a number of years, Matt Doherty is 28, John Egan is 27. Matt only has two competitive starts for Ireland, John Egan has two and a half. It's hard to fathom as three years ago, John Egan went for four million to Sheffield United, in my eyes he was ready them to play in our first team.
"It's not been a Matt Doherty/Seamus Coleman battle as Matt can play left back, right back, in advance positions, other players have played in them positions over the years ahead of Matt. I look at Sheffield United and Wolves in the top six in the Premier League and they are among their best players, two teams I admire."
Kenny says he has yet to speak to Keane about where he stands with the FAI but Kenny has no role for the ex-captain.
"I have the height of respect for Robbie Keane, what he has achieved is incredible. We don't know each other that well but any time we have had a conversation we got on fine, as the manager you have the right to pick your own backroom team. It's important with the roles that there's not blurred lines, clearly defined roles are important, and that's what I learned from my own personal experience," Kenny said.
"Keith Andrews has been my assistant with the U-21s, we have established a good rapport and a good way of working together, I have watched Damien Duff's coaching career at Celtic, he has played a pivotal role in what's a potential treble for them, the role he has played so Damien comes on board and it's about selecting my own team, who I feel can complement each other.
"It all happened really quickly last weekend, on Friday, I would have preferred to have a conversation with him but circumstances weren't right to do that, so that was the situation. He's had an incredible playing career, is assistant manager at a great club in Middlesbrough and I am sure he has a great future as assistant manager and manager," added Kenny who said there were "complex contractual issues" in relation to Keane.
Kenny says he wants people in Ireland to look up to his team and promises attacking football.
"I think I’ve only got one chance, you’ve only got one opportunity. The ambition will be to dominate possession, we can’t promise to achieve that. I want people to come to the Aviva Stadium and enjoy watching this team," he added.
"The majority of Irish public want to see an exciting team, a team that does well, make a connection with the team which is important. I want schoolboy teams to look and say we want to play like that."
Kenny also said he hopes to have a number of games under his belt as manager before the Slovakia match comes up.
"We might have three games in windows rather than two, that's unprecedented but I have no problem with that, I have dealt with that before, you manage it accordingly. When the playoff happens I'm not sure, if it's the first game I will make sure the team is ready, indications are it [Slovakia] is possibly due to be October with the final in November, if that's the case, brilliant, we'll have a few games to formulate our ideas and get ready for that game," he said.
"All indication are that Slovakia will not be the first game. I am preparing for September in my own head but if that's changed again you have to adapt. At the moment I am preparing for September."
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.