Ireland have enjoyed remarkable success under Birrell, including winning the Inter-continental Cup for the first time with a six-wicket victory over Kenya in October's final in Namibia.

BBC: SPORT | Cricket | Birrell to quit after World Cup

Coach Dave Whistle has brought in Cavallin as temporary cover and he will join Colin Ryder on the bench for the Continental Cup in just over a week's time at the Odyssey Arena.

BBC: Eagles forced out

The eight-nation Confederations Cup pits continental champions against each other, with world champions Spain among the teams joining hosts Brazil in an intriguing line-up.

CNN: Two stadiums miss Brazil's Confederations Cup deadline

The following season, they became the first British club to claim continental silverware by winning the Cup Winners' Cup.

BBC: Spurs target Euro elite

The eight-nation Confederations Cup, which pits continental champions against each other, will be held in the cities of Rio, Belo Horizonte, Recife, Brasilia, Fortaleza and Salvador from June 15-30.

CNN: FIFA's Valcke seeks support from Brazilian critic Romario

Mazembe, from DR Congo, are favourites to retain their continental title and qualify for the Fifa Club World Cup.

BBC: Esperance aim to overturn Mazembe in Champs League

The latest example of this is the Africa Cup of Nations, Africa's continental soccer tournament, which is being held in Equatorial Guinea (population 668, 000 roughly the size of Memphis, Tenn.) and Gabon (1.6 million).

WSJ: Soccer's Newest Power: Equatorial Guinea?

Lemerre has had more success in continental competition, winning the European championship in 2000, and the Africa Nations Cup for Tunisia in 2004.

BBC: Lemerre seeks Morocco revival