Republic of Ireland

The Republic of Ireland have spent a long time trying to match the achievement of the class of 1998, when Brian Kerr led teams including Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne and John O'Shea to the Under-16 and U18 European titles – the first time any nation had claimed both in the same year. Having taken charge last autumn, Paul Doolin has guided his side into the finals for the first time since 2002, clinching qualification with an impressive 3-0 dismantling of Italy.

With Manchester United FC pair Sean McGinty and Robert Brady – who had each scored twice in the qualifying round – absent due to club commitments, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC goalkeeper Aaron McCarey emerged as the key figure in a team which kept three clean sheets in the elite round. McCarey's club-mates Matthew Doherty and Anthony Forde were also key figures, while the sole home-based player in the squad, Bray Wanderers FC forward Connor Murphy, scored one and set up another in the decisive win against Italy.

Qualifying round: Luxembourg 5-0, Bulgaria 2-1, Serbia 0-1 (Group 10 runners-up)

Elite round: Poland 1-0, Ukraine 0-0, Italy 3-0 (Group 4 winners)

Key players
Aaron McCarey (goalkeeper, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC), John Egan (defender, Sunderland AFC), Robert Brady (forward, Manchester United FC), Eoin Wearen (midfielder, West Ham United FC)

Coach: Paul Doolin

Date of birth: 26 March 1963
Playing career: Bohemian FC (twice), Shamrock Rovers FC (twice), Derry City FC (twice), Portadown FC (twice), Shelbourne FC (twice), Dundalk FC, University College Dublin AFC
Coaching career: University College Dublin AFC, Drogheda United FC, Cork City FC, Republic of Ireland Under-23, Under-19

One of Ireland's most decorated footballers, Doolin has the distinction of winning a league and cup double with no less than four clubs, triumphing with Shamrock Rovers (1986 and 1987), Derry (1989) and Shelbourne (2000) in the Republic of Ireland in addition to a Northern Irish double with Portadown in 1991.

Still fit enough to play top-flight football with UCD at the age of 40, Doolin cut his teeth in management with the same club. He made his name at Drogheda where he won a league title (2007) two years after lifting the Irish Cup and came within seconds of eliminating FC Dynamo Kyiv in the 2008/09 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. Doolin was appointed manager of Ireland's Under-19 side in September 2010, adding to the role he already held with the U23 team.

Team facts

Qualifying top scorer
Robert Brady, Sean McGinty: 2

UEFA European Under-19 Championship best
Fourth place 2002

Honours in UEFA youth competitions
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Winners 1998
UEFA European Under-16 Championship
Winners 1998

Other honours
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Third place 1997