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Trap's Army

Trapattoni signs up for two more years

Denis O’Brien to continue his financial backing as Trapattoni signs a new deal with the Republic of Ireland.

GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI HAS been rewarded with a two-year contract extension after guiding the Republic of Ireland back to their first major championships in 10 years.

The Italian, assistant Marco Tardelli and fitness coach Fausto Rossi have all agreed new deals which will see them stay on with Ireland until the end of the 2014 World Cup campaign, the FAI announced this morning.

FAI chief executive John Delaney confirmed that businessman Denis O’Brien has agreed to continue his financial support for Trapattoni’s salary, which has been reduced from its original €1.8m per annum.

Although the exact figure of the new deal remains undisclosed, an RTÉ report indicated yesterday that the 72-year-old agreed to take a €300,000 pay cut to €1.5m.

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Delaney said that it was “right and proper” that Trapattoni be offered an extension after overseeing qualification for next year’s European Championships in Poland and Ukraine.

“He’s achieved, simple as that,” Delaney said.

“In the two groups that he’s managed us through, we’ve been a third seed twice, finished as runners-up twice and then naturally won our playoff against Estonia a couple of weeks ago.

He’s brought us to our first major tournament in 10 years and I think it’s right and proper that he should manage us through to the World Cup campaign.

In recent months, Trapattoni made no secret of his desire to continue on with the team until 2014. It made yesterday’s negotiation process quite straightforward, Delaney said.

“Mr Trapattoni and Marco Tardelli took a very sensible approach. They understand that we live in difficult times in Ireland these days. They did [take a cut], there’s no doubt about that.

The main thing for them is that they wanted to stay managing the Irish team. They love working in Ireland, there’s a great relationship with the FAI and the management team, and of course they’re leading us into Poland and the Ukraine in the summer.

Although the FAI are due a significant financial windfall from Euro 2012, the bulk of this money is due to go towards paying off the outstanding debt on the Aviva Stadium, which is due to be cleared by 2020.

As such, Delaney stressed, the continued financial backing of O’Brien was of immeasurable importance.

“It couldn’t be done without him, to be very clear. It couldn’t be done without him.

He’s been hugely supportive since we got Giovanni on board three years ago and in one word, his continuous support has been outstanding. Absolutely outstanding.

Welcoming the new agreement, O’Brien himself said: “Giovanni Trapattoni has done a tremendous job in bringing Ireland to qualification for the Euros for the first time since 1988.

“His professionalism, experience and close working relationship with the players has developed a squad which has grown in self-belief and determination.

“The squad is showing plenty of potential for further improvement during the coming campaign. I am delighted to continue my partnership with the FAI, Giovanni Trapattoni and the Irish squad.”

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