Republic of Ireland name new head coach Colin Bell

Colin Bell has been named as the new head coach of the Republic of Ireland Women's team.

The former FSV Mainz 05 defender succeeds Sue Ronan after she stepped down following six years in charge of the Irish team.

Bell has spent close to three decades working as a coach in both the men's and women's game, and has previously worked alongside the likes of current Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.

The 55-year-old won the German Women's Cup with FFC Frankfurt in 2014 and in the following season led the club to glory in the Women's Champions League.

Leicester-born Bell will leave SC Sand to take charge of Ireland who are currently 34th in the FIFA Women's World Rankings and have yet to qualify for a major tournament.

"I'm very proud to be given this opportunity to lead the Republic of Ireland Women's Senior Team and I regard it as a big honour," Bell told RTE Sport.

"I will do my very best to help women's football in Ireland continue to grow and to make it more attractive to young girls, who can have the dream of playing football at a high level.

"I want to help the Women's Senior Team to become role models for young girls to look up to and I want to instil the values of the FAI into this job as I aim to be as successful as I can be.

"It is a dream come true to be given the opportunity to become a national team coach and it is something during my 27 years coaching that I always wanted to be. Now, I'm looking forward to getting started."