Kerr to be Republic's first Irish manager since 1985

Brian Kerr will be unveiled as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland today. The Football Association of Ireland last night confirmed the appointment of the national side's youth-teams coach, initially considered an outsider, as Mick McCarthy's successor.

The 49-year-old Dubliner was chosen ahead of Bryan Robson, whose Manchester United links to Roy Keane were thought to have been an advantage, with the three-strong FAI selection panel voting 2-1 in his favour.

Other candidates interviewed, after a three-month search, were John Aldridge, Peter Reid, Kevin Moran and the Frenchman Philippe Troussier, Japan's coach during last year's World Cup finals. It had initially been thought that Milo Corcoran, the head of the FAI, favoured a foreign appointment.

Kerr will be the first Irish-born manager to be in charge since 1985, when Eoin Hand was succeeded by Jack Charlton. However, despite a "modest" playing career and a successful period managing St Patrick's Athletic, he has been deeply involved in the national set-up for years. It is believed Kerr will be a popular choice among the players, especially the younger ones such as Damien Duff and John O'Shea.

Pointedly, following the furore over McCarthy, the FAI is understood to have insisted Kerr does not have a newspaper column or write a book while manager. He will also be paid considerably less than his predecessor although there will, it is understood, be large bonuses if the Irish qualify for Euro 2004 – they are yet to collect a point – and the 2006 World Cup, after which his contract will run out. His first match will be a friendly against Scotland on 12 February.

Kerr put himself forward following the resignation of McCarthy last November after six years in charge. He was the first to be interviewed and will today name Chris Hughton, the Tottenham coach, as his part-time assistant. Yesterday the Spurs manager, Glenn Hoddle, said he did not object.

Kerr's biggest decision will be what to do about Roy Keane, who had a highly-public row with his predecessor which resulted in the player being sent home from the World Cup and vowing never to play again under McCarthy.

It is thought that Keane would have preferred an outside appointment and it may be that any return to the international fold is delayed until Manchester United's Champions' League campaign is over. That would rule Keane out of key Euro 2004 fixtures away to Georgia and Albania.

Despite his low profile, Kerr has a phenomenal record as a youth-team coach. Last week his Under-20 side won a four-nation tournament in Abu Dhabi, beating France. Kerr famously won the 1998 European Championships at Under-16 and Under-18 level. The Irish also finished third in the 1999 World Youth Cup.

The former Republic international Ray Houghton added a note of caution: "He is a very good coach and it is just whether he adjusts to the fact that these players are now men and multi-millionaires."