When it comes to Ireland internationals moving into management, quite a few familiar faces have stepped into the world of coaching over the last few decades.
Some of them have held very high profile roles, while other more recently capped names are only now taking their first steps along their new career path.
While you will likely be familiar with the exploits of quite a few former Ireland stars, some of them have made less glamorous moves over the years.
Here are nine of the most random ones.
The strangest managerial roles held by former Ireland internationals
Robbie Keane - Maccabi Tel Aviv
Let's start with the latest addition to this list.
It was announced earlier today that Robbie Keane had been appointed as manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv, a move that seemingly came out of nowhere. The Dubliner had been in the hunt for a managerial role for quite some time, although his move to Israel was certainly not an expected one.
Keane did have one role in management before, acting as player/manager at Indian club ATK. However, that one was not quite as odd as he had moved to the team as a player before stepping into the job after their previous manager left.
David O'Leary - Al-Ahli
Players and managers making the move to the Middle East is common practice now, but it was a far rarer thing when David O'Leary did so back in 2010.
Having left Aston Villa in 2006, the former Ireland defender had been out of work for four years when he took the job in the UAE back in 2010. His squad included legendary Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, who he immediately named as captain after his arrival.
Things did not go well for O'Leary at Al-Ahli and he was sacked in April of 2011 after a poor run of form. He still had two years remaining on his contract, eventually being forced to take legal action against the club to court in order to get the remainder of the money he was owed. Over two years later, he was eventually awarded $5.2million in compensation by FIFA.
He has not managed at any level since then.
Mick McCarthy - APOEL Nicosia
When Mick McCarthy's second spell as Ireland manager came to an end in 2020, it was assumed that his next job would be in the EFL. However, he would instead be appointed at APOEL Nicosia.
McCarthy bring in a couple of familiar faces soon after his arrival in Cyprus, signing Irishman Jack Byrne and former Wigan midfielder Joe Garner.
However, he would last only two months in the job before being sacked in January of 2021 after being in charge for only eight games.
Ronnie Whelan - Panionios
Ronnie Whelan's post-playing career is more well-known for his role as a commentator, but he did have no less than four managerial roles after hanging up his boots.
The first one came Southend United, although Whelan would then make the move to Greece with Panionios. The domestic campaign was disappointing, with the club only narrowly avoiding relegation. However, they would also qualify a European quarter-final for the first time in their history by reaching the last eight of the UEFA Cup Winner's Cup.
Whelan would leave at the end of the season, going on to manage Olympiakos Nicosia and Apollon Limassol in Cyprus soon after.
Johnny Giles - Vancouver Whitecaps
Johnny Giles is arguably Ireland's greatest ever player, but his achievements as a manager are often over looked. He did an excellent job during his spells in charge of West Brom, Shamrock Rovers, and Ireland.
In saying that, the job that doesn't quite fit the rest of his managerial CV is his spell at Vancouver Whitecaps.
Giles would take the job with the Canadian club in 1981, spending three seasons there. That included winning the NASL Coach of the Year of the award in 1982.
Noel Cantwell - New England Tea Men
Noel Cantwell earned 36 caps for Ireland before retiring in 1967, with the Cork native immediately moving into management with Coventry City. He would spend five years at the club before spending another half decade at Peterborough United, then making the move to America.
He joined the New England Team Men of the NASL after they were founded in 1978, where he quickly sign Ireland midfielder Gerry Daly on loan. The Team actually only lasted two seasons in Massachusetts before they upped sticks and moved to Jacksonville, where their nickname suddenly made a lot less sense.
Cantwell would stay with the club until 1982.
Owen Coyle - Chennaiyan
A one-cap Ireland international, Owen Coyle carved out a decent managerial career after his move into coaching. He led Burnley to the Premier League in 2009, also managing Bolton in the English top flight.
He bounced around a bit after that point, spending times at the likes of Wigan, Houston Dynamo, and Blackburn before making the move to India with Chennaiyin.
The club were runners-up in the IFL during his first season in charge, with Coyle then joining Jamshedpur before leading them to their first ever trophy. Having managed Queen's Park last season, he rejoined Chennaiyin for a second spell in charge earlier this year.
Frank Stapleton - New England Revolution
Frank Stapleton moved into management while still in the midst of his playing career, acting as player/manager at Bradford City for three seasons from 1991-1994. He would hang up his boots after a two-game spell with Brighton the following season, taking his first full-time managerial role in 1996.
It came with in the MLS, where Stapleton would manage the newly found New England Revolution.
He would spend only one season at the club, with New England finishing last out of the five teams in the Eastern Conference and failing to qualify for the play-offs.
Joe Kinnear - India & Nepal
Having retired from playing in 1976, Joe Kinnear made the move to the Middle East where he spent time coaching at the likes of Sharjah and Al-Shabab in the UAE.
He would move into international management in 1984, being appointed as manager of India. He spent less than a year in the job, although he would return to the region to manage neighbouring Nepal for a brief spell in 1987.
Of course, Kinnear would eventually get the opportunity to manage in English football with Wimbledon in 1992. He led them to a sixth-placed finish during his first season in charge and was named LMA Manager of the Year at one point.
His career was a bit strange after leaving the club in 1999, including two controversial spells at Newcastle.
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