Stephen Kenny insists that he has the 'height of respect' for Robbie Keane but wanted to assemble his own Ireland managerial team.
Kenny, 49, made the step up from the Ireland Under-21 manager to take the senior reins from Mick McCarthy on Saturday and promoted Keith Andrews from his 21s setup to assistant boss with the senior side.
Damien Duff has also been brought into the fold after Kenny heard glowing reports of his work as a first team coach coach with Celtic.
Keane served as assistant boss under McCarthy since 2018 and has a contract running until 2022, but is not in Kenny's plans. Ireland's record goal-scorer is currently in talks with the FAI.
"I have the absolute height of respect for Robbie Keane and always got on fine with Robbie," Kenny told RTE.
"Listen, he's been our greatest ever goal-scorer, it was just that I wanted my own backroom team, simple as that.
"Keith Andrews is my assistant. We've worked together for the last 15 months with the Under-21s and we've got a tremendous rapport.
"I'm into clearly defined roles as a management team, I don't like crossover roles, clearly defined, and Damien Duff, the job he's done at Celtic over the last year, I've got nothing but good reports and he'll be a terrific addition."
The former League of Ireland manager went on to explain that the fame associated with the national team job doesn't interest him.
"I'm not a celebrity, I'm just a football coach and that's all I want to be," he added.
"We've got a great group of players, I'm honoured to work with them. It's my job to unlock their potential and the whole team, and I intend to do that."
