The Football Association of Ireland said Tuesday it was close to appointing Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane as the new management duo in charge of the Republic of Ireland national side. Since Giovanni Trapattoni left in September the Republic have been without a full-time manager. But the intervening months have seen former Northern Ireland international O'Neill, out of football since being sacked by Premier League strugglers Sunderland in March, a likely replacement for the veteran Italian. Meanwhile former Republic skipper Keane -- who infamously walked out on his country as a player at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea after clashing with the manager Mick McCarthy -- has also been tipped to serve as O'Neill's assistant. More...