Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has claimed that temporary boss John O'Shea is the perfect option to lead the Irish national team full-time.
O'Shea managed to get his first win as Ireland boss in three attempts as the Boys in Green beat Hungary 2-1 in Dublin on Tuesday.
The search for a new Ireland boss has been ongoing since November, with nobody any wiser or clued up about who the next Ireland boss will be.
Some have made the case for O'Shea already, which is very brave, but after Tuesday's win, the clamour for him to become the next Ireland boss has increased.
Hamann, a regular on Irish television, says that O'Shea's relationship with fans and the country should make him a top consideration for the role.
"With the England game coming up in September, you need to bring somebody in who has some kind of relationship with the fans, the public, and the FAI," said the German this week
"You want someone for whom it is more than a job; it is a passion and an ambition to manage their home country.
Mikey Johnston, left, and interim head coach John O'Shea during a Republic of Ireland training session at the FAI National Training Centre in Abbotstown, Dublin. (Photo By Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images)"I would be mightily against bringing a foreign manager in because I think it is very important that you get the supporters back involved.
"If you bring someone in who is just going to fly in and out for these games, it's only a job for him."
Hamann went on to further emphasise the point about unity and clarity and claimed that O'Shea could be the "perfect" man to lead the team; that's if the FAI sees fit, though.
"You need the rapport and the relationship with the fans, and you have a guy there in John O'Shea who has a relationship with the players, and fans can feel it.
"There is unity and togetherness, which is what you want to see, because as a small country, if you haven't got that, you've got nothing.
"I think you have the perfect man in charge. Although you shouldn't judge it on a few friendlies, I'm sure the FAI will see how the team is together and the respect he has from the players, so I think they have the right man there."
Ireland plays Portugal on Tuesday.
