MARTIN O’NEILL SAYS it is a “privilege” to manage Ireland and insists the job was simply too good to turn down.

The FAI yesterday confirmed that O’Neill will take charge of the national team with legendary ex-player Roy Keane coming on board as his assistant.

The Derry native will be officially unveiled at a press conference in Dublin on Saturday before the squad meet up on Monday to train in preparation for next week’s friendly against Latvia at the Aviva Stadium.

O’Neill, who joked that the new management team were made up of a “bad cop” and a “bad, bad cop” last night, told Sky Sports News:

“It’s a privilege to manage the Republic of Ireland,” he told Sky Sports. “A job like this may not come around for quite some considerable time.

“The Republic of Ireland have had some success, Jack Charlton was great, Mick McCarthy was excellent and Trapattoni did very well indeed and all stayed in the job for quite a number of years.

So that opportunity may not be afforded to anyone in the foreseeable future.”

O’Neill added that he and FAI chief executive John Delaney are delighted to have addition of Keane while the incoming boss believes the squad will work well under one of the country’s most divisive figures.

“The players will have no problem working with him (Roy). They will be very positive as they want to play for their country, regardless of who is running the team.”

Northern Ireland boss not concerned about losing players to O’Neill

9 on-screen partnerships less volatile than Keane and O’Neill