Brentford end long famine of Irish Premier League managers by appointing Keith Andrews
Keith Andrews succeeds Thomas Frank as Brentford head coach. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Ex-Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews is the new Brentford head coach after agreeing a three-year deal with the Premier League club.
Andrews – in his first senior role - becomes the first former Ireland international to manage in the English top-flight for six years since Chris Hughton.
A statement from the club which finished tenth last year is expected later today, including details of his backroom staff.
Andrews follows in the footsteps of fellow Ireland internationals David O’Leary, Mick McCarthy, Joe Kinnear, Roy Keane, Owen Coyle and Hughton in taking charge of a Premier League club on a permanent basis.
The Dubliner was last year enlisted by Thomas Frank as set-piece specialist but the first clue of his potential promotion came when he announced his staff after switching to Tottenham Hotspur a fortnight ago.
While Justin Cochrane, coach Chris Haslam and analyst Joe Newton were part of the Dane’s package, Andrews was left behind at Brentford.
It emerged that the Bees’ hierarchy, led by Matthew Benham, considered Andrews as a natural successor to Frank.
He was interviewed about the step-up and though other names were linked, including Ipswich Town’s Irish manager Kieran McKenna, 44-year-old Andrews was the leading contender.
Andrews has been on the coaching circuit for a decade, accompanying Stephen Kenny in both the U21 and senior Ireland gigs, but not as ultimate decision-maker.
He’s only the second manager to lead Brentford in the Premier League.
They finished tenth last season and recently recruited Caoimhín Kelleher from Liverpool as first-choice goalkeeper. Compatriot Nathan Collins has been a central-defensive mainstay for the past two years but could be a target for his former boss Frank at Spurs.
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