John O'Shea on missing a call from old boss Alex Ferguson as he ...
His rise to being decision-maker may be fleeting for now but John O’Shea will have the first-hand advice of Alex Ferguson to call on before he picks his first-ever team next month.
O’Shea’s former Manchester United boss followed a familiar ritual last week once he heard of the Waterfordman stepping into the cavity created by the elongated pursuit of a permanent Ireland boss.
Problem was the new appointee was too immersed in the task he’d been handed by Marc Canham last Wednesday to answer his mobile.
“I had a missed call from a No-caller ID on Thursday evening and the only one who still calls me on No Caller ID is Sir Alex,” said the 42-year-old, nine years part of the United side that claimed five Premier League titles as well as an FAI Cup and Champions League.
“Anytime I've gone into a club or got involved with something, he's always got in touch. I still would be in contact with him now and again.
“I know he's in good form and jet-setting around the world winning trophies still – but within the thoroughbred industry.”
O’Shea has tried to moderate the galloping pace of his coaching career since finally retiring four years ago.
Assistant role stints at Championship clubs Reading, Stoke City and Birmingham were augmented by international exposure for both the U21s and seniors of his country.
Four months after being released by the FAI along with his boss Stephen Kenny, the call to fill in from the director of football was gleefully accepted.
He was receptive too once Canham floated Brian Kerr’s name as a potential addition to his team for these home friendlies against Belgium and Switzerland on March 23 and 26 respectively.
Beyond that, whether it’s Lee Carsley, Anthony Barry or another candidate who’s ready to accept the top job from the FAI’s early-April date, O’Shea is willing to assist.
He countered the suggestion by Tony Mowbray that he’s moved on from supportive roles to being attracted by solely No 1 posts. The new Birmingham City boss couldn’t persuade O’Shea to stay on after he’d replaced Wayne Rooney.
"That was a private conversation as well,” joked the 118-times capped former Ireland defender.
"I was having a good chat with Tony in the office and we were just talking about going forward and I said 'Look, hopefully I will be a manager one day' and the next thing Tony said 'John is ready to be a manager'.
“It just kind of flipped a bit that way. I feel the assistant roles that I've had, that I am ready to take the next step but I'm more than willing going forward as well to have conversations about different opportunities whether that be on coaching staffs as well.
“That was what I was speaking to Tony about, in terms of the preparation you have, or different things.
“He was speaking about his career, when he got involved in coaching and the steps he took, where he wanted to be and what he did. I felt that I'm now ready.”
O’Shea held off contacting any players until his press duties, postponed from Friday due to the snow in Dublin, were completed.
The frothy, long list of 40-odd players has been circulated to clubs but his final squad of around 24 will be named on Thursday week, four days before they assemble at the Castleknock Hotel.
Two regular Championship scorers in demand by other countries - Sammie Szmodics and Tom Cannon – will be hearing from O’Shea this week.
He explained: “I purposely didn't make contact with anyone before the press conference but there's every chance I will be getting in touch with everyone available for the next two games over the next two, three days."
"He (Szmodics) is scoring lots of goals. Obviously a very important player for Blackburn. Young Andy Moran has linked up with him for plenty of goals as well this season. We will wait and see over the next couple of days."
And then there’s the goalkeeping dilemma. Gavin Bazunu was the established number one under Stephen Kenny but Caoimhín Kelleher is currently Liverpool’s number one, keeping clean sheets in all of his three games last week.
“It’ll be a good goalkeeper – very good,” O’Shea assured, sporting his trademark smile.
“That’s obviously what we want; levels that’s going to test the players.
“Caoimhín has stood out over the last couple of weeks – the level that he’s been playing at and the demands being put on him.
“I think Gavin has been showing amazing consistency in a Southampton team that in general has been doing very, very well.
“And I’m thinking of Max O’Leary and Mark Travers. He was playing at the start of the season and went back to Bournemouth (from loan at Stoke City) but Max is having a good season at Bristol as well, so it’s a good goalkeeping unit.”
