Liam Brady has agreed a two-year deal to become assistant to new Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni after the former Ireland captain received permission from Arsenal to combine the international role with his club position.
Brady held discussions with FAI chief executive John Delaney before agreeing a two-year deal with the option to renew for a further two years.
"I was a senior international player for 16 years from when I was 18 until I was 34 and I am really looking forward to working with Giovanni Trapattoni and trying to qualify for the World Cup Finals," said Brady, who played under Trapattoni at Juventus.
The 52-year-old will join Marco Tardelli and Fausto Rossi as part of Trapattoni's backroom team and, having won 72 caps for Ireland between 1974 and 1990, he is looking forward to being involved with the senior international team again.
"I had a meeting with Giovanni Trapattoni last week during which he clarified my role and I am very happy with what he expects of me. He wants me to work with the players, which is of most interest to me, and also to be on the bench and in the dressing room during games. He sees me as someone he can talk to along with Marco Tardelli.
"I will also be part of the scouting network and will be going to as many game as I can to monitor the players in the squad and also track the progress of up and coming players," added Brady.
His first role will be to join Tardelli this weekend and watch Stephen Ireland in action as Man City take on Reading in the Premier League. The controversial midfielder has been exiled from the international scene after a number of incidents, including the lies about the death of his two grandmothers towards the end of Steve Staunton's tenure.
Since then Ireland failed to see eye-to-eye with caretaker manager Don Givens, who subsequently froze him out, despite the Cork player making himself available for selection. Tardelli and Brady will assess the 21-year-old's form at the Majeski Stadium this weekend in the hope of bringing him back into the Ireland fold.
Trapattoni remains involved with Austrian club side Red Bull Salzburg, where he is hoping to win the T-Mobile Bundesliga before signing off to take up his new role with Ireland. This week the Italian made comparisons to when he first started working with his current team and one he will manage from May onwards.
"At the moment I think, for me, Ireland is like this team in Austria when I arrived," Trapattoni said on Wednesday. "They are at the moment not good. They need someone they can trust and I think I can work there to help their quality."
"Until May I will stay here. We will win the season, then I will have to go to Ireland and prepare," said the Italian, referring to an Ireland team who haven't reached a major championship since the 2002 World Cup.
Of Brady's appointment Delaney said the Association was delighted he will be part of the new managerial set-up.
"Liam Brady is one of the greatest players that this country has ever produced and he has a tremendous amount to offer. He has an important role to play and I think it is a very good appointment by Giovanni Trapattoni," said Delaney.
"I would like to thank Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Football Club for their co-operation in allowing Liam to link up with the senior international team and combine it with his role as Head of Youth Development at Arsenal."
