Ireland Take A Step Up With Giovanni Trappatoni

February 14th, 2008 | by: Daryl |

Trapattoni, better than Staunton Ireland have landed Giovanni Trapatonni as their new manager, hoping the Italian’s experience will be enough to lead them to World Cup 2010 qualification. His big opponent in World Cup qualification Group 8? Italy, of course.

It’s a big ask, but you’ll have to agree that Ireland have made the right move by replacing Steve Staunton with Giovanni Trapattoni. Here’s a quick comparison of the two men’s careers prior to taking the Ireland job:

Giovanni Trapattoni

Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich, Fiorentina, Italian national team, Benfica and then Salzburg manager
Won Serie A, Coppa Italia, Bundesliga, Portuguese Superliga, Austrian Bundesliga, European Cup, European Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Cup

Steve Staunton

Player/coach at Walsall

Listing the two mens experience makes Staunton’s appointment look even more insane than it seemed at the time. But at least now the Football Association of Ireland have seen sense and hired a proper manager.

International Football News – World Cup Blog RSS Feed

http://scotland.worldcupblog.org Ian

I keep looking at this picture when I come to the site, and I keep having a double take because it looks like Trappatoni is giving the middle finger. But he’s not. Scotland is going to feel left out soon when Northern Ireland shocks everyone and announces their Italian coach … all the home nations are doing it.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Ian, I had the same thought. On several occasions.
kari

It’ll be interesting when Ireland vs Italia. This may be like when Mexico (coached by R.Lavolpe, an Argentinian) faced Argentina.