The return of Brian Kerr to the Ireland setup has been one of the biggest stories of this international window.
When interim head coach John O'Shea announced his coaching ticket for the two friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland, the name of Kerr jumped out from a list including former internationals in Glenn Whelan and Paddy McCarthy.
19 years ago, Kerr's stint as manager of the Irish side came to an abrupt end after the team stuttered through qualification for the 2006 World Cup, failing to reach the finals in Germany.
The reintegration of Kerr into the international setup has added a feel-good factor to this international window - and the veteran coach said it had been an emotional experience in an interview with the FAI this week.
READ HERE: Report: Bundesliga Clubs Monitoring Ireland U17 International
READ HERE: Bohemians Announce Alan Reynolds As Their New Manager
Brian Kerr opens up on return to Ireland setup
"It's been emotional..." 💚
Brian Kerr speaks to FAI TV on his role as Technical Advisor, being back working with the Ireland national team and working with the coaching staff for the two matches against Belgium and Switzerland 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/0F8TsQBsu0— Ireland Football ⚽️🇮🇪 (@IrelandFootball) March 25, 2024
One of the highlights of Saturday's draw against Belgium was the first instance of Brian Kerr appearing on the big screen at the Aviva Stadium. His presence was met with a predictably raucous reception from the home fans, in a touching moment almost two decades after his managerial tenure ended in such disappointing fashion.
Speaking to the FAI on Monday, Kerr said he never saw a return to the Ireland setup coming, and that he was humbled to be a part of the transition phase of the post-Kenny era:
I suppose, in some ways, it's been quite emotional really.
I didn't see myself in that situation that I was in on Saturday, going to the game on the team bus and going in the team entrance...I didn't see that coming around in my time in football again.
That part of it was quite emotional, being involved with the players and the staff.
But this is not about me, it's about trying to help out when asked in a period of Irish football that has been a little bit difficult lately. You're looking at no qualification for tournaments - I've aired my frustrations over the last few years working in the media on that.
Kerr was no doubt one of the loudest critics during Stephen Kenny's reign in charge, and the 71-year-old is now a crucial part of helping Ireland to slowly transition to the next head coach.
23 March 2024; Republic of Ireland technical advisor Brian Kerr after the international friendly match between Republic of Ireland and Belgium at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Who that next coach will be remains a mystery, with anticipation growing over the past few days that it could in fact be interim boss John O'Shea who gets the job permanently.
Judging by his interview with the FAI, it does not seem as though Kerr is expecting any more than a "brief" stint with the current team. He does, however, rate the youthful coaching staff around him very highly, saying he has learned as much from them as vice versa:
I was offered the opportunity to help out just for this brief period of time, to give John and the staff and the association a dig-out. Whatever knowledge or experience I have, if it's of benefit to John and the lads, I'm more than thankful to be given the opportunity to give that little bit of knowledge.
But, as I said earlier, I don't think they need an awful lot of help, they know the game. They're experienced at international football...I've been kind of learning from them as much as they've been picking up a few bits from me.
There's a whole new language around the coaching game which I find very interesting.
It remains to be seen whether Brian Kerr will remain in his Technical Advisor role beyond this international window, but the sight of him on the touchline in an Ireland tracksuit once again is enough to warm the heart of any Irish fan.
The Republic of Ireland face Switzerland on Tuesday night, with kick-off at 7:45pm in the Aviva Stadium. The game is live on Virgin Media Two.
SEE ALSO: Ireland Fans Should Keep A Close Eye On The Euro 2024 Play-Off Between Georgia & Greece
