Northern Exposure: Martin O’Neill in Profile
“I’m full of anomalies, ironies, paradoxes and downright contradictions.” Cian Manning takes a clsoer look at Ireland’s enigmatic manager.
Zizou to Become Next Madrid Boss?
Zinedine Zidane could be named Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at Real Madrid in 2016 when the Italian’s contract expires, according to media reports.
Trap Back in Business
Reports in Italy suggest former Irish boss Giovanni Trapattoni will take charge of our tricolour brothers from Africa, the Ivory Coast, but only after the World Cup in Brazil.
Happy Birthday Big Mick
Today’s is former Captain Fantastic Mick McCarthy’s 55th birthday. In honour of his post-match outburst after Ipswich’s game with Leeds, here’s some memorable quotes from the ex-Ireland boss.
Come Play for Me Argentina
The links between Ireland and Argentina go back centuries from the Chief Admiral of the Argentinian Navy, William Brown, to Che Guevara. There are significant footballing ties also, and two of the more exotic names touted as replacements for Giovanni Trapattoni are those of Hector Cuper and Marcelo Bielsa. Fellow countryman and journalist, Xabier François, says the time is right for an Argentine coach of the Boys in Green.
Blunders Down Under: Brazil-Bound but Managerless
Ireland shipped six goals against Germany a year ago and former manager Giovanni Trapattoni never fully recovered. Spare a thought then for our Australian friends. They suffered two 6-0 defeats in succession and are also on the hunt for a new coach. And like the Irish with McCarthy, the Aussies are pining for an old flame. Except, the Socceroos will be in Brazil next summer, as Ian Kerr of football culture magazine, Thin White Line, writes.
Return of the King
Noel King returns to the Irish senior set-up as caretaker manager 23 years after his involvement as coach with Jack Charlton at Italia 90. King replaces Giovanni Trapattoni in the Irish dug-out for the final World Cup qualifiers with Germany and Kazakhstan, stepping up from his role as U21 coach.
Ireland Manager: Mark ’02
With the news that the FAI plan to bide their time with the appointment of a new manager, we’re likely to see some new names enter the race. The last Irish squad to qualify for a World Cup could yet prove a breeding ground for future coaches of the national team. With many of the class of ’02 dipping their toes in the management waters, and the two main protagonists Mick McCarthy and Roy Keane among the contenders to succeed Giovanni Trapattoni, Diarmuid o hAinle looks at alternatives to the seemingly manager-elect Martin O’Neill.
No More Dreams and Songs to Sing…10 Talking Points
There’ll be no Green Army on the Copacabana, no swansong for Trapattoni at the World Cup (though the Italian might go there yet), and no death ball from above in the manner Ireland bombed out of the European Championship. There’ll be a new man in charge to lead the Boys in Green to France in 2016 and it’s the end of the line for some Irish players while others need to ask if they gave enough to the cause. Here’s 10 talking points from some traumatic days in Irish football.
The Trap’s Sprung but What Now?
It fell to David Alaba to put Ireland’s World Cup qualification chances to “leaba” on Tuesday night and with it the Green Army’s Polish lager-inspired hangover from Euro 2012 finally wore off. Dan Mellett asks, ‘What now?’