Maurice Setters, the former Republic of Ireland assistant manager, has died aged 83.
Honiton-born Setters was the number two to Jack Charlton between 1986 and 1995. During this time, the pair guided the Republic to the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, as well as the 1988 European Championships.
A midfielder by trade, Setters began his playing career with Exeter City in 1954. He went on to play for West Bromwich Albion, Manchester United (who he made 194 appearances for), Stoke City, Coventry City and Charlton Athletic.
Whilst at Old Trafford, he helped Manchester United win the FA Cup in 1963, where they beat Leicester City 3-1 in the final at Wembley.
As
a manager, Setters took charge of Doncaster Rovers in the 1970s, before
spells in caretaker charge of Rotherham and Sheffield Wednesday followed.
But it was as Charlton's right-hand man where he made his mark in the coaching world, reaching the quarter-finals of the World Cup in Italy in 1990 with the Republic in their first ever appearance in the finals. The Republic drew their opening game with England 1-1, with Kevin Sheedy cancelling out Gary Lineker's opener for England, held the then European champions Holland to another 1-1 draw before a goalless draw with Egypt sealed their place in their Last 16, and a meeting with Romania. The Romanians were eliminated 6-5 on penalties, after a goalless draw in normal time, which set up a meeting with hosts Italy. However, this would be where the journey would end as Toto Schillaci btoke Irish hearts to score the game's decisive goal.
In the subsequent 1994 World Cup in the USA, the Irish avenged their exit at the hands of the Italians by beating them 1-0 in the opening group game in New York, with a long range strike from Ray Houghton proving to be the difference. A 2-1 defeat against Mexico followed before a 0-0 draw with Norway in their final group secured their qualification for the Last 16, where they lost 2-0 to Holland.
This turned out to be their last appearance at a major tournament under Charlton's reign as they failed to qualify for Euro 96, after losing a play-off with Holland that proved to be the duo's final match in charge.
