Two Man Utd legends in running to be next Ireland manager as odds tumble

IRELAND’S three-month search for Stephen Kenny’s replacement as national team manager is ongoing.

However that search could well be coming to an end shortly, with the latest odds from bookmakers Coral showing ‘strong support’ for former defender and Manchester United legend John O’Shea.

John O’Shea is the new favourite to be Ireland managerGetty

O’Shea recently quit as Birmingham coach following Wayne Rooney’s sackingPA

O’Shea might be the new frontrunner to take the reins of the Irish but he isn’t the only Old Trafford hero well in contention.

Roy Keane continues to reaffirm his desire to be back involved in management – though won’t jump in at any opportunity – and he’s also towards the top of the betting.

But the strong backing in the betting for O’Shea, 42, is telling, having recently quit his role at Birmingham City under new boss Tony Mowbray to ‘look for the next opportunity’.

O’Shea left St Andrews at his own request after Wayne Rooney’s sacking, with Mowbray telling the press it was down to O’Shea’s own desire to become a manager himself.

That job followed spells as the assistant manager of the national team under Kenny and as a first-team coach at Reading and Stoke since his retirement from playing.

His odds have plummeted with Coral into 5/2, having previously been 8/1 and higher.

He heads long-term favourite Lee Carsley (5/1) in the market, with the efforts to tempt the England U-21 boss to make the move seemingly proving difficult.

Roy Keane is also in contention to lead Ireland

Anthony Barry (6/1) is an interesting contender given his work as Thomas Tuchel’s assistant at Bayern Munich, with Tuchel ruling out Barry following Kenny’s departure in November.

That situation has changed somewhat this week with the news that Tuchel will be leaving the German giants in the summer and reports suggesting the FAI might well contact Barry again.

O’Shea’s former team-mate Keane is a 10/1 shot having been out of management for over 13 years.

Though he did have a spell as Martin O’Neill’s assistant, with the duo helping the Irish to Euro 2016 – their last major tournament.

Neil Lennon is 12/1 though has recently distanced himself from the job, with Anthony Hudson, Chris Coleman, Gus Poyet and Jim Crawford all 16/1.

Coral’s John Hill said: “We have seen strong support for John O’Shea in our next Republic of Ireland manager betting over the last 24 hours.

“The former Manchester United defender now tops betting ahead of Lee Carsley and Anthony Barry respectively.”

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