Seamus Coleman is in pole position to become the next long-term captain of the Irish soccer team, according to manager Martin O’Neill.
The Killybegs man wore the armband during the recent 2016 Euro Championships in France.
And with John o’Shea no longer guaranteed a starting place, O’Neill says Coleman can be a great captain going forward as Robbie Keane looks forward to retirement.
“As a captain, I think he was inspirational in those games in France really.
“Seamus was like a man possessed, he was extraordinary. In the little huddle before the games, he got the boys wound up and that’s great to see.
“Not that it came as a big surprise to me because he is very intense. He seems like a quiet lad but in the dressing room, even when he’s not been captain over the past couple of years, he’s still got a voice and that’s very, very important.
“He has put himself in a very strong position.”