The Irish national football team is currently without a manager since Giovanni Trapattoni resigned earlier this year after failing to secure the teams qualification for the World Cup that will be held next summer in Brazil.

The Ireland home soccer jersey 2013 utilises the colours of the Irish flag.  The top and socks are usually green in colour, the shorts are white. Orange trim is often integrated to fully use the counties national colours.

The away kit often reverses these colours with a white jersey, however there has been occasions where an orange second choice strip has been chosen instead.

Since 1994 Umbro has been the official manufacturer of the Ireland soccer jersey. In 2009 a new deal was renegotiated to ensure this partnership would remain in place until at least 2020.

Unusually for a national squad the Irish kits sport a sponsor. Telecommunications Company '3' adorns the front of the jerseys; however, the team shirts on match day do not feature this icon due to FIFA regulations.

Giovanni Trapattoni joined as manager of the team that wear the Ireland soccer jersey in 2008. He had an unbeaten spell of 10 games during the 2010 World Cup qualifiers but narrowly failed to qualify.

His biggest achievement was securing qualification for the 2012 European Championships a feat they had only managed once before throughout their entire history in 1988.

Trapattoni resigned earlier this year and Noel King was appointed caretaker manager of the players that wear the Ireland soccer jersey, whilst the Irish football association (FIA) made a decision regarding a suitable replacement.

Historically the FIA has taken its time choosing a replacement and with no imminent World Cup, and qualification for the Euro 2016 tournament not beginning until late 2014 they have had plenty of time to choose.

Since the outset of the FIA negotiations Martin O'Neil has been the favourite choice to take over as manager of the squad that wear the Ireland home soccer jersey 2013.

O'Neil is a 61 year old, originally from Northern Ireland. He spent most of his short playing career with Nottingham Forest before becoming a football manager in 1987 at Grantham Town.

Before considering whether or not to manage the team that wears the Ireland home soccer jersey O'Neil's management career has been varied and overall successful.

He has managed several teams including Wycombe Wanderers, Leicester City, Celtic and Aston Villa.  He has been named Premier League Manager of the month on 8 occasions and led Celtic to 3 Scottish Premier League titles between 2000 - 2004.

Martin O'Neil's most recent managerial post was with Sunderland football club which began in 2011. His 1st season in charge began extremely successfully with a string of wins, later on their form dwindled but they finished in a respectable 13th place.

During his final months he failed to secure a win from 8 games resulting in him being sacked in March this year.

Recent media reports have suggested that a deal could soon be agreed between O'Neil and the FIA to instate him as manager of the Irish national side. It has also been suggested that Roy Keane a former player to wear the Ireland home soccer jersey will join O'Neil as his assistant.

This seems to be a promising pairing with 2 passionate former Irish internationals at the helm.

The side are soon to wear their Ireland soccer jerseys in friendly matches against Latvia and Poland on the 15th and 19th November 2013.

There is much uncertainty regarding the timing of any deals that may be signed, but some reports are suggesting that prior to these matches the deal may be done.

It will be hoped that the new manager can potentially lead the team into France 2016 and even the Russian World Cup in 2018.

Do you think O'Neil would make a good replacement for Trapattoni?

What do you think of the idea of Roy Keane being O'Neil's assistant?

Show your support for the team and the new manager by ordering an Ireland soccer jersey from Soccer Box.