Alan Mannus has landed a job with the IFA - but Shamrock Rovers fans shouldn’t worry.
The brilliant goalkeeper, who already lives in Northern Ireland, will combine his netminding duties with the Hoops with a newly created role as Goalkeeping Coach Educator for the governing body.
The nine-time capped Northern Ireland ‘keeper has now been charged with developing a pathway that will support goalkeeping coaches across all levels.
Mannus hailed his new role, saying: “I believe good coaching is essential when developing players and I will be aiming to use my experience to help goalkeeping coaches from Northern Ireland and beyond to improve standards and practices, which in turn will help to develop players.
“I have always intended to give something back and do my part in helping to develop goalkeepers in Northern Ireland.
“Having gone through the process myself I understand the challenges they face, and I am confident that I can help them develop to reach their potential.”
Mannus (40) was convinced at the end of last year by Rovers boss Stephen Bradley to play on for another season.
He was contemplating retirement at the end of the recent campaign, which saw the Hoops claim a third league title in a row and reach the Europa Conference League group stages.
Rovers are aiming for another lucrative run in Europe this year, but most of the attention will be on their bid to equal the record set by the club’s famous four-in-a-row side in the mid-1980s.
His appointment as a coach educator, meanwhile, was welcomed by the IFA’s head of coach education Sean-Paul Murray.
He said: “Alan joins us with a wealth of high performance experience, having played at the highest level of the game, including nine senior caps for Northern Ireland.
“This is a newly created role that will complement the Coach Education Department and the development of goalkeeping coaching at all levels.”
