Houllier will be Irelands next Manager

[Ritchi3]

It certainly is. It's exciting to have such an outstanding and experienced coach as our national team manager. It's a real coup for us. Kudos, for once, need to go to the FAI for securing such an outstanding coach.

I'm not sure it does. I think they got lucky this time. Without Brady, we may have had Venables or even Billy Davies. This should have been wrapped up months ago.

[The Erectile Banana]

I'm not sure it does. I think they got lucky this time. Without Brady, we may have had Venables or even Billy Davies. This should have been wrapped up months ago.

I agree the process has dragged on too long, but you can't blame the FAI for candidates we 'might' have ended up with. The end result of securing Trappatoni more than makes up for the the convoluted selection process for me.

[Ritchi3]

I agree the process has dragged on too long, but you can't blame the FAI for candidates we 'might' have ended up with. The end result of securing Trappatoni more than makes up for the the convoluted selection process for me.

It does and you're right I shouldn't. I just have a feeling that if Brady hadn't piped up, we'd be stuck with a nobody.

[Imy]

Trapattoni agrees Republic deal


Giovanni Trapattoni has agreed to become the next Republic of Ireland manager on a two-year deal, his current club Red Bull Salzburg have said.

The Italian, who succeeds Steve Staunton, will begin his duties after the completion of the Austrian League season in late April.

Trapattoni verbally agreed to take the job on Sunday evening.

Claudio Gentile is expected to be part of his backroom staff but it's not clear if Liam Brady will be involved.

Brady is understood to have encouraged Trapattoni to take the Republic position.

Trapattoni's appointment ends a long-running saga which followed Staunton's departure from the job in October.


FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed on Monday that a board of management meeting would take place on Wednesday to approve an appointment.

Delaney held further discussions with Trapattoni and the 68-year-old's advisors on Tuesday before the deal was formally agreed.

Trapattoni won six Serie A titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan. He also led Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg to league titles and managed Italy from 2000 to 2004.

A number of names had been linked to the Republic post and former England coach Terry Venables was the long-time favourite to succeed Staunton.

[Shaggy]

Pleased? He'll be delighted. He practically wet himself with excitement when the prospect of Trappatoni came up after the Brazil match.

Well I was thinking more along the lines of his "great mate" Brady being involved. They always struck me as being real good pals.

[Nic83]

Just thinking about this. Have we ever had a manager before that's actually won anything of not before? Ok, Kerr had won a few under age titles and and Irish league I think, but I don't think any of the others had won anything. You'd have to go a long long way back to find one. This is a giant leap forward.

Did McCarthy win promotion with Barnsley? does that count

[Maestro]

He's an angry chappy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqp64q7kHmw

..and his German - even still - is appalling. God knows what his English will be like.

Although he's not the manager he was, he's still an excellent appointment for Ireland. That snake Delaney is going to get off the hook now though...

[Maestro]

Just read a quote from Trapattoni in the Austrian press....he's keen to get Brady in, and is sure that "If I ask Wenger, he will not stand in his way"

[johnp]

..and his German - even still - is appalling. God knows what his English will be like.

Although he's not the manager he was, he's still an excellent appointment for Ireland. That snake Delaney is going to get off the hook now though...

He does have his failings and his ****ups, but he has done some good too.
Take Limerick 37 as an example, if it weren't for Delaney they'd be out of business.

[The Erectile Banana]

Well I was thinking more along the lines of his "great mate" Brady being involved. They always struck me as being real good pals.

Ah, I see. I think he'll be happy that one of his pals has gotten involved in the setup. That won't stop him launching ridiculous OTT attacks at him when things go wrong though.

[Maestro]

Brady and Giles debate "World Class Players"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2eIjZJ2DJ4

[Nic83]

Well thats €250 of the capello winnings back to the bookies(or other betfair punters i should say)

[Maestro]

Mate of mine put €150 on Trap @ 150/1 !!!

[johnp]

Mate of mine put €150 on Trap @ 150/1 !!!

[johnp]

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2008/0213/ireland1.html

Trapattoni confirmed as new manager
watch listen Wednesday, 13 February 2008 17:44

The FAI has officially confirmed Giovanni Trapattoni as the new manager of the Republic of Ireland.

At a press conference at the FAI headquarters in Abbotstown in Dublin, the FAI said Trapattoni will take over on 1 May when his contract with Red Bull Salzburg ends.

Trapattoni will take charge of the Republic of Ireland in time for the friendly against Serbia at Croke Park on 24 May.

The FAI said it had concluded the contract talks with the Italian's lawyers in Milan yesterday.

The Chief Executive of the FAI, John Delaney, also revealed that businessman Denis O'Brien offered financial assistance to the association to attract a top-class manager and the offer was accepted by the FAI.

Delaney said that there are no strings attached to the offer, which will see O'Brien pick up half the overall cost for the new management team over the two years.

Earlier today, Trapattoni posted a positive statement of intent by vowing to lead the Republic of Ireland to the 2010 World Cup finals.

Trapattoni is confident Ireland can not only end their barren run of failing to reach the last three major tournaments, but even top the group.

'Ireland are not a second-rate team, they are supposed to be a first-rate team,' insisted Trapattoni, who previously managed Italy from 2000 to 2004.

'Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first.'

Despite the number of candidates mentioned and interviewed for the post by a three-man head-hunting panel, Trapattoni has confirmed he was not approached until earlier this month.

Although his CV in club management is impeccable - featuring numerous league titles and trophies with Juventus, Internazionale, Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg - Trapattoni has insisted it is for family reasons that he has returned to international football.

'This is the time in a year when football managers receive offers, and this is what has happened to me,' added Trapattoni.

'In the last two weeks I received offers from various clubs, and about 10 days ago representatives of the Football Association of Ireland approached me. I found their offer very interesting.

'I am very comfortable here in Salzburg. We won the Austrian title last year and we have a great chance to win the title again this year.

'Leaving the title as a farewell present to my Bulls is now my number one aim.

'But the opportunity to manage the Irish team will give me a lot more time to spend with my family.

'Yesterday my lawyers in Milan and representatives of the FAI came to an agreement and I accepted their offer.'

It is anticipated Trapattoni will appoint former Italy defender Claudio Gentile as his assistant, and take fitness coach Fausto Rossi with him from Salzburg.

Giles happy with appointment

Johnny Giles is hopeful Trapattoni's greatness will rub off on the Republic of Ireland.

The Republic have been in the doldrums of late as they have failed to qualify for the last three major championships.

The FAI's coup has certainly caused a stir, but he is the right man - and long overdue - as far as many of Ireland's legends and pundits are concerned.

'You always hope you get someone like that,' remarked Giles, who managed the Republic throughout most of the 1970s.

'At the start of the process Trapattoni didn't seem to be in the frame at all, but I think it's great he's come in late and all's well that ends well.

'He's an experienced man and he's been a great manager over the years, and hopefully he'll be a great manager for us now.'

Denis O'Brien is picking up half the cost of the management team