FAI give backing to Trapattoni

Giovanni Trapattoni will remain as Republic of Ireland manager, following an extraordinary FAI board of management meeting held in Dublin this evening.

A press release from the association confirmed that the 73-year-old Italian will remain, despite the board of management saying they were ‘disappointed like everyone with the poor result and performance against Germany’, while ‘understanding the frustration of some of our supporters’.

The FAI are insistent that qualification for World Cup 2014 ‘remains a realistic and achievable prospect’, with the team’s next set of qualifiers in March, away to Sweden and home to Austria, crucial to determining their chances.

The board added “that convening a meeting between the Germany and Faroe Islands matches and/or commenting on the Germany game or the manager’s position prior to last night’s game would have been totally inappropriate,” indicating that last night’s 4-1 victory over the Faroes, a part-time team ranked 158^th in the world, has saved his job.

Despite intense criticism from supporters, including the unveiling of a ‘Trap Out’ flag in Torshavn last night, and reports of him losing full control over the dressing room, the players were insistent following the Faroes win that they fully back the manager.

“I think if he was the manager after Friday’s game and now after getting a great result tonight, I can’t see him not being the manager,” Robbie Keane said.
 

James McCarthy, meanwhile, added: “The pressure is on everyone when you are beaten 6-1 but obviously it’s a great win for the boss.
 

“He has been brilliant to me since I came in. I would like to see him stay on.” 

While tonight’s statement was hardly a ringing endorsement of Trapattoni, he will certainly take charge of Ireland’s next game, a friendly at home to Greece in mid-November.

The statement in full reads:

"The Board of the FAI met today and discussed Ireland’s performances in the World Cup Qualifying campaign to date and the prospects of achieving qualification for Brazil 2014.

The Board agreed that convening a meeting between the Germany and Faroe Islands matches and/or commenting on the Germany game or the manager’s position prior to last night’s game would have been totally inappropriate.

Following today’s discussions the Board, while disappointed like everyone with the poor result and performance against Germany and understanding the frustration of some of our supporters, believes the current position in the group means that qualification for Brazil in 2014 remains a realistic and achievable prospect and reaffirmed that Giovanni Trapattoni is to remain in charge of the national team.

The Board recognises the depth of feeling surrounding the team, the performances, the results and the manager, reflecting the passion which everyone in Irish football has for the game and will continue to work closely with the manager."

More to follow...