AFTER 64 MONTHS in charge of the Irish national team, Giovanni Trapattoni has left his post. Below, we relive the most memorable and defining matches in the Trap era.
Ireland 1 Serbia 1 – Friendly, 24 May, 2008
Full of optimism after the shambles that was Steve Staunton’s tenure, fans at Croke Park witnessed Andy Keogh come off the bench to ensure Trap avoided defeat in his first game in charge with an injury-time equaliser. The new manager handed debuts to QPR full-back Damien Delaney and Stoke midfielder Glenn Whelan. One would become a lynchpin in the Italian’s team, the other hovered around the fringes for awhile before his short international career was ended.
Team: Kiely, Kelly, Dunne, McShane, Delaney, Duff, Miller, Whelan, Hunt (Keogh 80), Keane (Murphy 69), Doyle (Long 86).
Andy Keogh is congratulated on his goal by Damien Delaney. Pic: INPHO/James Crombie
Georgia 1 Ireland 2 – World Cup qualifier, 6 September, 2008
Played at a neutral ground in Mainz, Germany, due to political unrest in Georgia, Trapattoni got his first competitive game off to a winning start. Kevin Doyle scored a header on 13 minutes and Whelan doubled their lead thanks to a goalkeeping blunder before Ireland conceded late on. It was clear there were plenty of areas to work on but the former Juventus boss was pleased with the result, saying he was convinced they could qualify for the 2010 World Cup.
Team: Given, Finnan (McShane 80), O’Shea, Dunne, Kilbane, McGeady (87), S Reid, Whelan, Hunt, Keane, Doyle (Miller 77).
Steve Finnan tackles Alexander Iashvili. Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Ireland 2 Italy 2 – World Cup qualifier, 10 October, 2008
Having drawn 1-1 in Bari after Robbie Keane’s last-gasp strike against 10-man Italy, he welcomed his native country to Dublin. In an entertaining game, Glenn Whelan buried Liam Lawrence’s smart free-kick but Mauro Camaronesi then headed a corner past Shay Given. Sean St Ledger scored his first goal for the country and what looked to be the winner on 87 minutes. The Azzurri had other ideas though, and Alberto Gilardino robbed Ireland of a famous win in the dying moments – securing top spot for Italy and resigning Ireland to the play-offs.
Team: Given; O’Shea, Dunne, St Ledger, Kilbane; Lawrence, Whelan (Rowlands ’70), Andrews, McGeady (S Hunt 78′); Doyle (18 Best ’67), Keane.
Italy manager Marcelo Lippi looks on as Trap shouts instructions. Pic:INPHO/James Crombie
France 1 Ireland 1 (2-1 on aggregate after extra time) – World Cup play-off, second leg, 18 November, 2009
Who can forget that night in Paris? 1-0 down after the first leg at home, Ireland travelled to the French capital intent on causing an upset. And during their best performance under Trapattoni, they went in front through Robbie Keane on 33 minutes. What happened next caused an international storm – Florent Malouda’s ball, Paul McShane’s failure to clear, the hand of Thierry Henry and a close range finish by William Gallas. To make matters worse, there was Henry’s ridiculous attempt to show Richard Dunne compassion at the final whistle and the ignorant sniggers of Sepp Blatter.
Team: Given, O’Shea (McShane 66), St. Ledger, Dunne, Kilbane, Lawrence (McGeady 106), Whelan (Gibson 63), Andrews, Duff, Doyle, Keane.
Henry’s cheating. Credit: Inpho
Russia 0 Ireland 0 – Euro 2008 qualifier, 6 September, 2011
Somehow, Ireland held Russia to a scoreless draw at the Luzhniki Stadium to keep qualification hopes alive. It really was the siege in Moscow as Dick Advocaat’s side threw everything at Given’s goal… but found Richard Dunne in the way everytime. The Dubliner’s performance in particular will go down in history alongside Paul McGrath in the Giants Stadium as one of the greatest defensive performances ever produced in an Ireland jersey.
Team: Given, Kelly, Dunne, O’Dea, Ward, McGeady, Whelan, Andrews, Duff (Hunt 67), Doyle (Cox 59), Keane.
Dunne: There are no more Russians… Credit: Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Estonia 0 Ireland 4 – Euro 2012 play-off, November 11, 2011
The luck of the draw couldn’t have been any kinder as Ireland were paired with Estonia after finishing behind Russia in the group stages and virtually booked their place at the European championships with a 4-0 win in Tallinn. They got off to a terrific start when Keith Andrews headed home an opener, then Jon Walters and a Robbie Keane double all but secured their place at a major tournament for the first time in ten years. Trap claimed “the cat is in the sack but the sack is not closed” but they completed the job in second leg in the Aviva Stadium, which ended 1-1.
Team: Given, Kelly, St Ledger, Dunne, Ward, Duff (Hunt 73), Whelan (Fahey 78), Andrews, McGeady, Keane, Walters (Cox 83).
The Irish players applaud travelling fans at the final whistle. Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Spain 4 Ireland 0 – Euro 2012, 14 June, 2012
Ireland were shown up in their opening Group C game with Croatia, and it wasn’t going to get any easier as reigning world champions Spain and eventual beaten finalists Italy were next up. In Gdansk, Ireland were completely outclassed on the pitch. Two from Fernando Torres were added to by David Silva and Cesc Fabregas on a night when most of the post-match talk surrounded the Irish fans rendition ‘The Fields of Athenry’. Ireland would suffer defeat in all three of their games and head home as statistically the worse team at the finals.
Team: Given, St Ledger, Ward, Dunne, O’Shea, Whelan (Green ’80), McGeady, Andrews, Cox (Walters ’46), Duff (McClean ’76), Keane.
Keith Andrews can’t get near Xavi. Pic: INPHO/Donall Farmer
Ireland 1 Germany 6 – World Cup qualifier, October 12, 2012
The game which ultimately spelled the end of Giovanni Trapattoni reign a year ago. Two down at half-time, it finished 6-1 as an Ireland side stripped of several experienced players recorded their worst ever result in a competitive home fixture. The Italian was in defiant form during his post-match interview but the writing was on the wall and despite a 4-1 win over the Faroe Islands, his days were numbered.
Team: Westwood, Coleman, O’Shea, O’Dea, Ward, McGeady (Keogh ’69), Andrews, McCarthy, Fahey (Long ’51), Cox (Brady ’84), Walters.
Miroslav Klose is surrounded by green shirts. Credit: INPHO/James Crombie
Maybe its time for the entire board of the fai to consider their position as well
What were we doing playing a euro 2008 qualifier in Moscow in
2011? I know the FAI are incompetent but….
Well spotted
Would have preferred to have seen him end on a winning note, he has done wonders for Irish soccer, he effectively ended the dark days of Staunton and kerr’s reign and made Ireland somewhat competitive again, and lets face it, 5 years ago before his arrival we’d never think that we would have played in an international tournament at this stage… Although he made some serious mistakes towards the end I hope everyone appreciates him for what he has done… Ciao!!!
The dark days of Kerr’s reign? You’d want to heck your stats mate. Kerr had a 55% win rate and we only lost 4 out off 33 matches under him. I’d have that back tomorrow if I could.
Unfortunately blowing a 2-0 lead at home to Israel was rather unforgivable
With those stats? I’d forgive it all day long. His failure was to qualify for tournaments, fair enough. I think he probably would have qualified us for the Euros though, which is all Trap managed. And he might have focused more on the youth end of things.
Kerr had better players available but still couldn’t beat the Swiss at home. And if Kerr was that good why can’t he find employment?..
Fear not folks , I’m informed Roddy Collins is ready to take up the job , He’s just awaiting the call from Mr Delaney to finalize the terms of his 20 yr deal
The Rod Squad … The international years …From Monaghan to the Aviva
Sincerely hope Chris Hughton gets the job, but questionable if he’ll leave Norwich. A lot of speculation about Harry ‘Del Boy’ Redknapp but don’t think it’s realistic.
Home record was worse than that of Steve Staunton! How can people debate his dismissal/payoff??? #baffled
his away record?
we were the 4th best team in the group and our results have reflected that. He lacked the bit of luck needed for a team of our standard to make it.
He pulled it off in the previous campaign and came very damn close in the one before that but thats not good enough for Ireland fans.
We will never have a manager of his quality again UNLESS we pay up big time again.
There’s lacking luck, and then there’s not fielding the best players available to you, performing incomprehensible subs and playing lads out of position.
I’d say he had a lot of luck to get as far as he did!
The cop out is to blame the players! Look at Wales’ record with the same players under Speed and now Coleman! Grassroots is where it needs to start, everyone will agree on that point. We need to have a manager that has some level of justification with his decision making process and can at least communicate in English to his players!
Surely Paul Greens last cap!!!! Brian McDermott is hopefully the next manager.
Green who got man of the match?
Brian mcD only joined leeds before the summer, he wont leave
Green who currently plays for McDermott?
Not a hope o Neill getting it
I’ll never forget that, Terry Henry. Never. ;-)
he done the the best he could with what he got
2 games that always stick in my mind were the 2 v bulgaria, 2 games we should of won and would of got us top spot and avoided that play off v france. Kilbane had a mare in both if I remember correctly.
we shouldve won both games vs italy too
give roy keane the job
Andy Reid is dire and has no pace. Wes hoolihan can do a couple of passes but does nothing in midfield so you would need to drop a striker! And as past it as everyone thinks Keane is he’s the only one who can put the ball in the back of the net. The fact that Shane long didn’t see the pass to Keane the other night is only his fault and Wilson can say that he was pressurised into hitting long balls but not one of them found a man??
I wish Giovanni Trapatonni the best of luck for the future, Nice to see the President of the FAI, John Delaney gracious in speaking about him and his achievements. with the Irekand Team,, Obviously they had a good relationship .It was vey ungracious of Eamonn Dunphy to go ranting and raving about the manager and his ignorance displayed towards Liam Brady who at times failed to get his word in edgeways Eamonn should get down of his high horse and relax if he can do this at all .. What type of football did he play at Miwall -let him reflect
We do not have a high calibre of players as we had hereto fore They are not to be found in the english Clubs at present
No matter what future manager is appointed Dunphy will continue his diatriibe so all potental candidated beware .
I don’t care who gets the irish job ,a manager is only as good as his team.i always remember as a kid playing football ,I was always told the best form off defence was attack.the real reason I decided to write on the journal was to ask you ,Not to mention the name Roy?who.
I wonder if he’ll do better in the fish ‘n’ chip business!