NiallOK’s Blog

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As I said in a recent tweet (wow, I’m so up to date… like, using Twitter, man! That was even on CSI!), … today I was a bar manager - tomorrow I’m teaching 5th class in a local primary school (just standing in, “natch”), tomorrow night, I’m a footballer (getting better at that recently), on Thursday I’m a DJ in (the same) local bar - (YES, my Outlook calendar is gone into overdrive) … may be spreading myself a little thin (hah!)… but hey, at the weekend (well, Friday excluded), I’m free!

So… all that, combined with my recent conversion to “single” status means that after over 5 years of absence from “Boards Beers” (pissups organised by the ‘citizens’ of Boards.ie), this Saturday, I’m going to Boards Beer 19 in Dublin (and I’m dragging my brother along too)…

I’m totally assuming, of course, that it’ll look just like this picture (- that’d be me in the middle)…

Should be fun

On the day that Trappatoni gave his first press conference as Ireland manager, the brother found this on YouTube…

Carlsberg’s new TV ad. Good stuff!

Posted on the official FAI web site today :

The Football Association of Ireland has appointed Giovanni Trapattoni as manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international team after successfully concluding negotiations with his lawyer in Milan yesterday. The 68-year-old Italian will take up his post on May 1, 2008, when he has finished his commitments with the Austrian club, Red Bull Salzburg. His first game in charge of Ireland will be the eircom international against Serbia on May 24 at Croke Park.

The President of the Football Association of Ireland, David Blood, said:

“The Board of Management agreed unanimously with the recommendation of the Selection Panel and have appointed Giovanni Trapattoni as the next manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international team. His track record is among the most successful in Europe and he is widely acknowledged as one of the most outstanding and successful coaches in the modern game. He has managed at club and international level and has won 10 league titles in four different countries. In addition he has won the European Cup, Cup Winners Cup, UEFA Cup and Super Cup as well as the Intercontinental Cup. The Board of Management would like to express their gratitude to the members of our Selection Panel – Don Givens, Ray Houghton and Don Howe – on a job well done. We thank all those who expressed an interest in the position and attended interviews with the Panel. We would also like to everybody for their patience during the process and now look forward to the upcoming World Cup qualifying campaign.”

Goody

While the Irish Independent say that Terry ‘El Tel’ Venables is still in the race, the Irish Examiner, on the other hand, are saying that Giovanni Trappatoni has been appointed by the FAI.

Hope the Examiner are calling this one correctly…

SOCCER chiefs last night pulled off their own Italian job by securing legendary coach Giovanni Trapattoni as the next Republic of Ireland head coach. [...] The 68-year-old met in Austria last night with the three-man FAI selection committee and agreed in principle to hook up with the Republic once his contract with Salzburg finishes in May (*1). [...] He is likely to be given a three- or four-year deal, worth in excess of €1.4m per year, with bonuses (*2). [...] Liam Brady(*3) will be part of Trapattoni’s backroom team and will perform a similar general manager role to that which Oliver Bierhoff fulfils with Germany. [...] The Italian, who turns 69 on St Patrick’s Day (*4), boasts an awesome CV in European football. Notes: *1: Apparently, he’ll be in place in time for the friendly match against Serbia on May 24th. WOW, REALLY? THAT SOON?! *2: Bonuses??? What??? 1.4 million euros ISN’T ENOUGH? *3: Yes, Liam Brady. For the current generation, that’s “the ould lad from the Meteor ad that says ‘tell them to grow up’.” … Yeah, him. *4: Is this doubly cool both because he’ll be 69 (Beavis & Butthead style “huh-huh… huh-huh…”) AND because he’s born on our patron saints day, or what?