O'Neill, Keane set for Ireland

London - Martin O'Neill is due to be appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland with Roy Keane as his assistant, according to reports in the British media on Saturday.

Ireland, who missed out on a place at next year's World Cup in Brazil, have been without a permanent head coach since Giovanni Trapattoni left by mutual consent following a defeat by Austria in September.

Northern Irishman O'Neill, 61, last managed Sunderland, who sacked him in March this year, and has also taken charge of Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.

Former Manchester United captain Keane, 42, played 67 games for Ireland, but he has not worked as a coach since his dismissal as manager of Ipswich Town in January 2011. He has since been working as a television pundit.

Keane caused controversy in 2002 when he walked out on the Ireland squad prior to the World Cup in Japan and South Korea after falling out with then-manager Mick McCarthy.

Ireland are due to host Latvia in a friendly on November 15 before travelling to face Poland in Poznan four days later.

According to a report on the BBC website, O'Neill could be officially appointed manager before the squad is announced for those two games on Tuesday.