Sport digest : Trap Turned Down Other Offers

Irish Voice Sport

Sport digest : Trap Turned Down Other Offers

March 12, 2008

By Cathal Dervan

NEW Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni has revealed he turned down four other offers before accepting the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) invitation to succeed Steve Staunton, he revealed.

“I received offers from other countries, there were three or four national teams,” said Trapattoni to Italian TV channel GR Parlamento. “They were better projects but more risky from a personal standpoint.”

Italy will meet Trapattoni’s Ireland in the World Cup qualifiers. “In order to qualify for the World Cup in 2010 we will have to do a great job. To achieve qualification will be a great satisfaction for me and a great joy for Ireland,” he said.

Trapattoni and the FAI have confirmed that Liam Brady is now on board as assistant manager with the Republic. He started work last Saturday when he watched the Reading-Manchester City game in the company of fellow coach Marco Tardelli.

“I had a meeting with Giovanni Trapattoni last week during which he clarified my role and I am very happy with what he expects of me,” Brady told RTE.

“He wants me to work with the players, which is of most interest to me, and also to be on the bench and in the dressing room during games. He sees me as someone he can talk to along with Marco Tardelli.

“I will also be part of the scouting network and will be going to as many games as I can to monitor the players in the squad and also track the progress of up and coming players. I was a senior international player for 16 years from when I was 18 until I was 34 and I am really looking forward to working with Giovanni and trying to qualify for the World Cup finals.”

Brady and Tardelli saw Shane Long score one of the Reading goals in a 2-0 win, and also discussed the Stephen Ireland situation with City boss Sven Goran Eriksson although Ireland didn’t come off the bench in the game.

“I do not know if Stephen will play for Ireland again. I’m on the side of Trapattoni, but you can’t force a player to do something that they don’t want to,” said Eriksson afterwards.

“I am expecting to see Trapattoni at our training ground soon to speak with Stephen. I know he is keen to get Stephen back into the Ireland set-up.”

Meanwhile, Bobby Robson is to become an ambassador for the Football Association of Ireland having previously served as International Football Consultant.

Newcastle’s Irish ’keeper Shay Given has seen a Belgian specialist in his bid to beat the hip injury that threatens his season with club and country.

Celtic Draw

CELTIC had to settle for a 1-1 Scottish Cup draw with Aberdeen at Pittodrie on Sunday when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink grabbed a dramatic injury-time equalizer.

Aberdeen had taken a 79th minute lead through Jeffrey de Visscher before the Dutchman finished a Samaras cross in added time.

Bhoys boss Gordon Strachan said, “I thought the draw was a fair result. We hit the post three times, their goalie was excellent and our goalie was excellent. So I think both teams deserve another shot at it for the hard work they put in.

“We try and give our fans entertaining football and that was an entertaining game. In terms of cup ties this season that might be the best that you’ll see.

“The pitch didn’t make it conducive for good football but there were chances, tackles, headers and a dramatic late equalizer so there was a lot to be positive about.”

Meanwhile, Strachan has told pundits to put his team’s Champions League exit at the hands of Barcelona into context.

“There is a lot we can take from the games against Barcelona. We can take the fact that we had to win the league to get to that stage,” said Strachan.

“We beat Spartak Moscow in the qualifiers when they were on top of their form and playing on a plastic pitch. We can say that we got rid of Shakhtar and Benfica in the group stages and we can say that we got to the same stage as Real Madrid, Seville and Lyon and either Liverpool or Inter Milan.

“A lot of big clubs left at the same time as us so there is nothing to be embarrassed about. There are a lot more positives than negatives. We can be proud of being in the last 16 for the last two years, that’s good for a small nation.”

Celtic have announced that coach Tommy Burns has suffered a recurrence of the skin cancer he had treated two years ago. Burns intends to continue in his role as first team coach and head of the Youth Academy during this period of treatment.

Keane Happy

IRELAND captain Robbie Keane wants to see out his career with Spurs after helping the club to their recent Carling Cup final win over Chelsea.

“I can’t see myself going anywhere or playing for anyone else now. That is why I signed a long-term contract,” said Keane, 27.

“I am more than happy here and I want to stay here for as long as I can. If I keep doing well and the club want me, then I am happy to stay here for the rest of my career.”

Geary Back

BRIAN Geary is back in light training with the Limerick squad after surgery on a serious cruciate knee ligament injury last year.

”Brian is hoping to be ready for the championship, but of course there is no guarantee with an injury like this,” Bennis is quoted as saying in the Irish Daily Star.

“He’s in great form and he’s been doing all the weights work in the gym to build up the knee again. It would be a huge boost to have Brian back fit and available but Paudie O’Dwyer has been doing very well for us at center back.”

Whelan a Dub

MIDFIELDER veteran Ciaran Whelan has committed his immediate future to the Dublin footballers and postponed all debate on his long-term plans.

“I haven’t really made a decision,” said Whelan commented. “It depends on how you’re feeling come the summer.

“I know the way Dublin football is and, when, people think your time is up, they won’t hesitate in telling you. We’ll see just come the summer and take it from there.”

GAA Shorts

WATERFORD hurling boss Justin McCarthy has left defender James Murray out of his plans for the 2008 season after the player went on a four month holiday to Africa when his team-mates were engaged in pre-season training . . .

MONAGHAN footballer Tommy Freeman and Tipperary hurler Eoin Kelly have been named the Vodafone GAA all-stars players of the month for February . . .

FORMER Offaly defender Cathal Daly may have to quit the game after suffering a serious leg injury in a club game with Tullamore.

LIMERICK footballer Michael Reidy has been banned for six months after incidents in the recent NFL game against Sligo . . .

VETERAN Meath players David Brady and Kevin O’Neill have announced their retirement from inter-county football . . .

THE Kerry County Board have voted against GAA proposals to renew the International Rules series against Australia . . .

VETERAN Wexford hurling star Declan Ruth will make a decision on his inter-county future by the end of the month . . .

CLARE hurling defender Gerry Quinn has been ruled out of the next two NHL games with a recurring hip injury . . .

EXPERIENCED star Malachy Molloy has quit the Antrim hurling squad . . .

JOHN Gardiner is the new captain of the Cork senior hurling team.

Dunne’s Challenge

BERNARD Dunne has thrown down a title challenge to new European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe and his Dublin born manager Frank Maloney.

Dunne wants a crack at Munroe’s new belt before the year is out, and he’s ready to cross the Irish Sea if Ballyfermot born Maloney can make his dream come true.

Munroe did what Dunne had failed to do last August when he out fought and out-pointed one hit Spanish wonder Kiko Martinez in Nottingham on Friday night to take the European crown.

“Rendall has shown Martinez up for the one trick pony I always knew he was so hopefully I can get a crack at Rendall now by the end of the year,” Dunne told Star Sunday.

“What happened in Nottingham has proved that my defeat was a one-off but I have to look to the future and that now includes a crack at Rendall.

“I would have jumped at the chance to get back in the ring with Martinez if he had retained his title so now I’d jump at the chance to fight Rendall if we can make it happen.

“It all depends on what Rendall and Frank Maloney want to do now but who knows I could be two fights away from another crack at the European title and that is exactly where I want to get back to.

“A fight with Rendall is what I want now because I know that European title can propel me back up the world rankings and get me back on course.”

Castlebar and a showdown with former world champion Felix Mechado is first up for Dunne on October 12 at the Breaffy House Sports Hotel when he will look to make his title point.

“The Munroe win on Friday night just adds to the importance of my fight in Castlebar,” claimed Dunne. “If I can come through that and look good who knows where we will end up, maybe even with Munroe in my next fight.”

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