Mick McCarthy has signed a two-year extension to his contract as manager of the Republic of Ireland that will take him to the European Championships in 2004.
There had been speculation regarding McCarthy's future following the Republic's qualification for this summer's World Cup Finals in Korea and Japan.
But a delighted McCarthy said: "I am happy with the new deal. Hopefully now we can get on with the business of doing well in the World Cup.
"That is where the emphasis is. We are not happy or content at simply qualifying for the World Cup. Now we want to have a good tournament and not be coming home after the group stages," he said.
There had been the prospect of McCarthy signing a four-year contract, to include qualification for the 2006 World Cup, but he responded: "That's not an issue.
"For now, I am delighted with this. If I don't get us to the European Championships, because standards have now been set, then I will not be around," he said.
FAI chief executive Brendan Menton said: "On behalf of the Association we are delighted this has been resolved - and very quickly.
"Mick wanted to stay and we wanted him to stay and in the end it took just two meetings between the FAI and Mick for the new contract to be concluded".
