|
the trap is set : Ireland lure top Italian coach  IRELAND
have a new manager: Giovanni Trapattoni.
After a search that lasted almost four months, the highly-decorated Italian
coach is set to be formally installed by the end of the week even though
he will not leave Salzburg until his contract ends in May.
Trapattoni, who turns 69 on St. Patrick’s Day, has met with the
FAI’s panel of headhunters after contact was made through Liam Brady.
Brady is reported to be taking a general manager role on Trapattoni’s
team and it is thought he will be groomed to take over as Irish manager
when the Italian boss steps down after his mooted four year ?1.4million-a-year
deal expires.
Brady was signed by Trapattoni in 1980 for Juventus.
No confirmation has yet been forthcoming from the FAI but if the deal
comes off without a hitch it would be a coup on their behalf, after they
have been widely pilloried for the way the 14-week hunt has been conducted.
Yet few observers will quibble with the appointment of a man who has won
seven Serie A titles, a European Cup and three Uefa Cups as well as League
titles in Germany, Portugal and Austria, the last of which was delivered
last season.
Meanwhile, an offer of ?1million to the FAI from a businessman to help
fund a top-class international managerial team has been made.
Giovanni Trapattoni, along with his backroom team, could cost Irish soccer
nearly ?2million-a-year which is a major increase on what was paid to
Staunton and his management.
FAI president David Blood was unwilling to go into specifics but confirmed
the offer was genuine.
“There could be people that would be prepared to support us in that
area but there’s nothing official at this time,” said Blood.
“We are in a situation where if people want to make an offer then
it will be given full consideration by us. If people want to assist us
there’s no way that we wouldn’t discuss it at a very high
level.” |
