The FAI has appointed Dutchman Ruud Dokter as its new High Performance Director "following an extensive worldwide recruitment process".
Dokkter will replace compatriot Wim Koevermans, who left the post in June last year to take up the job of national coach to India.
The 57-year-old Dokter has coached extensively at underage level with the Dutch Football Association (KNVB) and has "built up a wealth of experience in delivering the world famous Dutch model of player development," according to the FAI.
From August 1st, he "will oversee the non-senior international men’s programme, the women’s senior and underage international programmes”, as well as coach education and player development.
“I am really looking forward to taking up the role of High Performance Director for the FAI," said Dokter. "I will be getting involved in Irish football at an exciting time for the game here with the emergence of many promising young players and solid performances at underage international level.
"My first priority will be to cultivate relationships with those people who invest so much time in nurturing young Irish talent, provide a good sense of direction and influencing everyone to work together. Ireland has a fine footballing tradition and I want to build on that, using my experience to optimise the development of the coming generation of elite players."
FAI chief executive John Delaney added: "Ruud will be working closely with all of the affiliates involved in Irish football with an emphasis on coaching and the development of our elite player pathway. His experience will be a great addition to the association and we look forward to having him on board."
Meanwhile, Republic of Ireland international Keith Fahey has been ruled out for the rest of the season.
The Tallaght man's manager at Birmingham City Lee Clarke has confirmed the midfielder is suffering from a hip injury that is affecting his groin.
"We got really concerned as he had a lot of bleeding in his groin area which came out in a bruise," Clark said. "When we had it scanned, the hip area was the problem. So he is certainly out of the six remaining games and we need to know where we are further down the line so he needs to see a specialist."
Clarke added the injury was “an absolute nightmare” for him and, indeed, Fahey, who has only just come back to the first team after being allowed 'compassionate leave' to return to Dublin.
The former St Patrick's Athletic midfielder has not featured for Ireland since the 6-1 mauling at the hands of Germany in October and now looks a serious doubt for the summer friendly games against England (May 29th) and Georgia (June 2nd), as well as the resumption of World Cup qualifying against the Faroe Islands on June 7th.
