KOEVERMANS LOOKS TO SUCCEED

Trapattoni - will work with Koevermans.

Wim Koevermans has vowed to combine the Irish fighting spirit with Dutch technique to provide the Republic of Ireland with a new generation of international stars.

The 48-year-old former Holland international was unveiled as the Republic's new international performance director on Friday having been charged with the task of developing the nation's emerging talent.

Koevermans, who has spent the last seven years working for the Dutch Football Association's academy, has now been asked to spearhead the FAI's drive to get the most from their elite youngsters from Under-21 level down and the women's senior squad.

However, while he will bring aspects of the famed Dutch approach to football development with him, he will not abandon the Republic's traditional strengths.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin on Friday, Koevermans, who has signed a four-year contract, said: "Holland and Ireland played each other many times.

"We have played some very interesting games and we always knew that playing against the Irish team was always difficult because of their fighting spirit.

"They are on top of you if you don't know how to handle that. It was our style against the Irish style, but also they had very good players and were very interesting to watch always.

"I am not here to just say, 'okay, we will bring the Dutch style'. That's not the way it is.

"I am working for the Football Association of Ireland and of course I will bring in my experience, but please keep the good things that are in Irish football because there are many things that are very good.

"It is not only technical, it is also a package for each player in Ireland, in Scotland, in England in Holland.

"You have to build from the basis up to the top, but of course, you can see at international level what qualities are required to play at that level.

"That's where we want to go to, so we have to bring in the good things that players need, so the quality of the coaches and managers is also important for the development of the players."

Koevermans, a member of the Holland squad which won the 1988 European Championships, has an 18-year coaching career behind him which includes spells at RBC Roosendaal, NEC Nijmegen and MVV Maastricht, as well a period working as assistant coach with the Dutch Under-21s.

He recognises the challenges faced by smaller countries in producing the players they need at international level, and is relishing the prospect of providing senior boss Giovanni Trapattoni with reinforcements.

He said: "I know from my experience in my home country - it is a similar situation in small countries - we have to work really hard in order to get players to a higher level.

"That is a big job, and it is getting more difficult every year.

"The plan that will take place from now on and in the future is a very good one."

FAI technical director Packie Bonner, who was part of the team which recruited Koevermans, was delighted with the appointment.

He said: "There was tremendous interest in this position from all over Europe and we ended up with a shortlist of very high-calibre candidates.

"I believe the appointment of Wim Koevermans will have tremendous benefits for Irish football and I look forward to working closely with him as do the under-age international team managers and FAI coaches."