Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni has stepped down from his role with the national side after their failure to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Trapattoni watched on as his side fell to two defeats in the last five days. The first coming at home to Sweden and the second coming at the hands of Austria.
The two defeats ensured that Ireland could not qualify for the 2014 World Cup and after today’s meeting with the FAI, the two parties have decided to mutually terminate the Italian’s contract.
The 74-year-old Italian said: ‘I want to thank everyone in Ireland who has given us their support during our time here which has always meant a lot to us.
‘We leave this country with emotion because we understand the Irish supporters who have a well-deserved international reputation and they have our utmost respect.’
He continued: ‘I would like to thank [FAI chief executive] John Delaney, [president] Paddy McCaul, [honorary secretary] Michael Cody and the FAI Board for their support and friendship over the last five and a half years.
‘I would also want to thank all FAI staff members, including the backroom team and the players, who have been great to work with during the last three campaigns.
‘I wish them well in the future and hope that the job we have done leaves everything in a good place for my successor to take over.’
The chief executive of the FAI made the following comments: ‘We thank Giovanni Trapattoni, Marco Tardelli and Franco Rossi for the last five and a half years during which we qualified for our first major tournament in 10 years and were close to qualification for 2010 World Cup in South Africa after the play-off in France.
‘This particular World Cup campaign has been disappointing, but Giovanni leaves us with a group of good young players which should form the basis of the squad that the
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
