OWEN COYLE HAS bagged himself a new management job in English football after being appointed to take charge of Blackburn Rovers.
Coyle, who won his one and only cap with the Republic of Ireland during his player career in 1994, had departed his position at MLS team Houston Dynamo last week.
His appointment marks his return to English management after previously being in charge of Burnley, Bolton Wanders and Wigan Athletic between 2007 and 2013.
He replaces Paul Lambert in the managerial hotseat in Ewood Park. Lambert had announced in April that he would leave Blackburn at the end of the season with the club ultimately finishing in 15th place in the Championship.
Owen Coyle told the club’s official website: “First and foremost I’m absolutely thrilled and honoured to be Blackburn Rovers manager and I look forward to working with terrific people at the club.
“The ultimate aim is to give a team that is representative of the fans, a team that is entertaining and hard working, and a team that can win.”
Coyle will work alongside assistant manager Alan Irvine and first team coach Rob Kelly.
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Good ole Keano, telling it like it is.
Have to agree with him Keane always says it how it is and is brutally honest I know that doesn’t split well with some United fans who says he has a chip on his shoulder.But he says it how it is
@Jamie: can’t believe it’s a story nobody really thinks Liverpool can win anything big this season. Even the most deluded Liverpool fans know they are well off the big boys..
@Stephen Foster: he’s a 100% right love his honesty Moreno no football brain and then the 3 stooges with him
@Irishoverseas: totally agreed, only big boys now are Chelsea and man city. Too many little teams and has beens think they can win something like man United.
As a Liverpool fan, I came into the season knowing this (as I’m sure most other Liverpool fans did also) – I was under the impression that another top 4 finish, last 16/QF of the CL and possibly a good cup run would’ve been a good season before maybe moving on to bigger things over the next couple of years. I mean, up until last year we were by some distance the 6th/7th best team in England
@Matthew: only thing is last year, like Chelsea, they didn’t have midweek matches in Europe. No doubt this helped Chelsea win the league and Liverpool get top 4. It will be interesting how the Liverpool squad and especially the defence hold up when the games are coming thick and fast. I don’t see them in top 4 this year.
@Ted Logan: Fair points Ted, but while the Defence is absolutely catastrophic, the bench we had last night (Mignolet, Coutinho, Sturridge, Chamberlain, Milner, Klavan, Robertson) is the best bench I can remember Liverpool having in a long time! A shambles at the back but can’t deny the squad is stronger as a whole than it was… I remain cautiously hopeful that they’ll be able to cope
@Matthew: And that bench is without Lallana, Alexander, Grujic and Clyne. Just a shame about our Centre Backs
@Matthew: only coutinho and, sturridge on that bench are worth mentioning the rest are young past it or just no good.
@Stephen Foster: Wonder would he be so forthright about how Ireland are playing. You know that team he is helping manage that cant string a few passes together.
As a Liverpool supporter , I’m not sure what is more embarrassing at the minute, “liverpools defence or ur man shaving his legs and missing the game”!
@barney o reilly: Why would a Liverpool fan be embarrassed by the Asensio thing?
@barney o reilly: The shaving incident it has to be. Thats a criminal excuse for missing a CL game. Thought Keano was very soft on him too.
Real Madrid will be laughing at Liverpool, and the 32 countries at the World Cup will be laughing at Ireland. People in glass houses, etc etc.
@Marcas Ó Callanáin: Why all of a sudden criticise the assistant manager. I never heard anyone blame an assistant before for how a team plays. You could probably put your house on it that he feels the same as us but he cant publicly say we’re shit. Fair enough if you disagree with his analysis but thats what he’s paid to do.
What did he have to say about MoN’s tactics for the Georgia match and Ireland’s chances of qualification? Did he tell it like it is?
@Peter Kiernan: I’m sure he did but since he wasn’t a pundit for that game we won’t know.. Do you expect Keane to be like every other pundit who’s in a job or currently looking for a job to come out and not be honest about the game he’s watching?
@Peter Kiernan: he was presenting on the champs league. Liverpool v Sevilla. Why would he comment on the ireland game??
@Irishoverseas: you do have to laugh at the irony of Keane talking about football tactics and the shambles that he is 50% responsible for with the international team.
@Sean @114: the Irish players can’t cut the mustard. Not Keanes fault surely.
Interesting look – without the beard and all
@Dr Richard DeWitt: going for the Kim Jong Un look, it’s all in right now!
Love his honesty and he’s 100% correct should have bought 2 central defenders instead of OX Moreno has no brain running all over like a headless chicken and he’s with the 3 stooges
@Nollaig Elliot: Name another assistant manager who does as many press conferences as Roy. That’s why he is in the firing line.
@Ray Hyland: loads properly do but do you watch all press conferences from all around the world ?
Says the belligerent clown who bailed on his country and oversees the current mess of an Irish team.
No doubt he said the same about djimi traore in 05?
@Rusty Nuts: I can’t believe that you are that thick. Please stop posting.
@GARFARKLE: believe Garfarkle … believe
@GARFARKLE: eh, no
We should probably just do the sensible thing and quietly withdraw from the competition seeing as Roy doesn’t think we can win it.
@Stephen Keane: why do you think ye can win it?
@Stephen Keane: but hang on, Roy knows everything and is the ultra professional.
@Stephen Bolger: not the point. Do you think APOEL think they can win it?
@Stephen Keane: we? Are you on the team?
Nice to see him rockin a Forest era flat top… Tommy Tiernan no more..
Legend