Stapleton appointed Republic of Ireland manager
Republic of Ireland have appointed Frank Stapleton as their new manager.
The former Ireland international has signed a two-and-a-half year contract and will be in charge for Ireland’s next game against Wales on 17th November.
FAI spokes man said: "Frank has demonstrated he has the right temperament for a battle, which the next 2 years is undoubtedly going to be."
Stapleton succeeds Steve Staunton and inherits a side embarrassed by nations like San Marino, Slovakia and Cyprus.
Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for next years Euro 2008 competition in Austria and Switzerland.
The spokesman insisted: "We feel Frank is the right man to take Republic of Ireland forward.
"We have to be fully focused on the task ahead and make sure we achieve immediate success.
"I have spoken to the staff and the players. We are all committed to getting behind Frank and turning our fortunes around."
Stapleton is best remembered for his time at Arsenal, Manchester United and as a pivotal player for the Republic of Ireland. In the 2003-04 season he briefly returned to English football as a specialist coach of Bolton Wanderers. The Bolton manager Sam Allardyce wanted Stapleton to enhance the skills of the strikers at the club and saw the Irishman as an ideal candidate, given his successful playing career. He has also been a manager at Bradford City. Experience which is predecessor did not have.
The news comes as a shock to Under-21 boss Don Givens who had been told he was in temporary charge of the team for the final Euro 2008 qualifier away to Wales next month, but the FAI moved faster than expected in finding Staunton's permanent replacement.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/republicofireland/7061643.stm
