Republic of Ireland manager Martin O Neill says appointing Roy Keane as his assistant ranks among his best decisions after seeing his team qualify for Euro 2016.
Jonathan Walters scored twice as Ireland beat Bosnia-Herzegovina 2-0 in front an elated Dublin crowd to seal a 3-1 play-off aggregate victory and a spot in France next year.
It marks a fine achievement for O Neill, who was appointed in November 2013, and his team after they were fourth with four games remaining.
O Neill will take much of the praise for the team s qualification, but he was keen to praise the work of former Ireland international Keane.
Talking about big decisions, bringing Roy Keane in is as good a decision I ve made in some time, O Neill told Sky Sports.
He s been enormous for us. He s not taking many of the accolades, but he s been fantastic for me, the backroom staff, and of course the players.
Ireland have now qualified for back-to-back Euros for the first time and O Neill lauded his squad.
He added: I couldn t be more proud of them they ve been fantastic from the start way. I m thinking way back in Georgia from Aiden McGeady s late winner. I always felt those points might be important so they proved.
The points against Germany were fantastic. I hold my players in the highest esteem. They might lack some things, but fight and courage until the end they possess in abundance.
