Damien Duff has taken up a coaching role with the Republic of Ireland national team after Stephen Kenny was confirmed as Mick McCarthy’s replacement.

Duff is one of a trio of former Rovers players to be included in Kenny’s backroom team, with Keith Andrews stepping up from the Under-21s and Alan Kelly continuing in his role as goalkeeping coach.

Kenny was always set to replace Mick McCarthy in the Ireland hotseat, but his appointment was brought forward from the previous August 1 start date after the postponement of the scheduled Euro 2020 play-off match with Slovakia.

That was due to take place in March, before being pushed back to June but UEFA have since announced that  no international matches will take place for the foreseeable future.

With the summer tournament pushed back 12 months, and the prospect of the play-off match being moved to November, Ireland have brought forward their management changes.

Duff, aged 41, played 224 times for Rovers between 1996 and 2003, having graduated through the Academy and moved in to coaching in 2017 after ending his career at Shamrock Rovers.

Capped 100 times by his country, Duff will work alongside Kenny having earned his coaching stripes with Shamrock Rovers and Celtic.

“The calibre of Stephen Kenny’s backroom team is top class and these are great additions to our senior team coaching staff,” said FAI Interim CEO Gary Owens.

“Keith and Damien served Ireland so well as players and their experience will be such an addition to our senior squad’s support team.

“Keith and Stephen have worked brilliantly together with the Under-21 squad and Damien, currently finishing his UEFA Pro Licence with the FAI’s Coach Education department, has impressed everyone with his coaching skills and his switch from world class player to coach.

“Alan knows international football inside and was part of the squad at two World Cup finals. He is highly regarded as a coach with Premier League side Everton and has huge experience with Ireland.

"Together, Keith, Damien and Alan have so much to offer Stephen and his players as we look forward to the UEFA EURO 2020 Play-Offs, the Nations League and the World Cup qualifiers.”

Rovers defensive duo Darragh Lenihan and Derrick Williams will hope to impress the new management side to boost their international ambitions in a bid to make the squad for the Slovakia qualifier.

The pair were set to be named in the provisional squad for the initial play-off game with Slovakia in March, prior to the postponement.

The winner of that tie will play Bosnia & Herzegovina or Northern Ireland, with a place in Group E alongside Spain, Sweden and Poland up for grabs.

Kenny’s role with the Under-21s has been taken on by former assistant Jim Crawford, with John O’Shea, currently on the coaching staff at Reading, promoted to be his No.2.

“On behalf of President Gerry McAnaney, the Board of the FAI and myself, I wish Stephen, Jim and their coaching teams the very best of luck in their new roles. We know they will do Irish football proud,” Owens added.