GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI STILL has three competitive games to go before his contract ends with the FAI, but that hasn’t stopped Ireland fans betting on who will replace him.
The Boys in Green suffered a hammer blow to their World Cup qualification hopes on Friday night as Sweden left Dublin with a 2-1 win at Lansdowne Rd.
Brazil now out of reach, the Italian’s reign will surely now draw to a close after the final pool game at home to Kazakhstan next month.
Roy Keane is a 20-1 chance, according to Betfair, to take up office at the Association with which he had such a frayed relationship during his playing days.
Keane’s former boss Alex Ferguson, meanwhile, is priced at 50-1.
“We have seen money for Roy Keane to be the next Ireland manager this week and maybe his ruthlessness is what the team needs but what a dream ticket Sir Alex and Roy reuniting under the shamrock would be,” says Betfair spokesperson, Barry Orr.
“Martin O’Neill is still our strong favourite though and has been constantly linked with the job since leaving his Premiership position.”
Martin O’Neill’s name featured several times in RTÉ’s post-game vox-pop in D4 on Friday night and the ex-Celtic and Aston Villa boss is the bookies’ favourite at 13-8. Former Ireland boss McCarthy is next best at 9-1.
Who do you fancy for the job when it becomes available?
