1. #TRAPATTONI Giovanni Trapattoni has agreed a new contract which will see him stay on as Republic of Ireland manager for a further two years, the FAI announced this morning.
The Italian’s extension runs until the end of the 2014 World Cup campaign.
2. #GARY SPEED An inquest into the death of Wales manager Gary Speed will open this afternoon. The inquest at Warrington Coroner’s Court is expected to open and adjourn today before a full hearing at a later date.
The world of football continued to pay tribute to Speed yesterday. Former Leeds team-mate Gary McAllister, who appeared alongside Speed on Football Focus on Saturday, described the 42-year-old as “a movie star in my eyes.”
3. #FORMULA 1 Former world champion Kimi Raikkonen is set to return to the F1 grid next season. The Finnish driver, who left Formula 1 two years ago to pursue a career as a rally driver, has signed a two-year deal with Lotus Renault GP.
4. #NFL A delegation of NFL officials will visit Dublin on Friday in order to assess Croke Park’s suitability to host a regular-season American Football game, this morning’s Irish Examiner reports.
The visit follows comments made by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week in which he suggested that the league was currently examining the possibility of a game in Ireland.
5. #SPOTY Major-winning golfers Darren Clarke and Rory McIlroy feature on the ten-man shortlist for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Mark Cavendish has been installed as the bookmakers’ early favourite for the prize, which will be announced on 22 December.
6. #CARLING CUP There are three Carling Cup quarter-finals up for decision this evening, including a pair of tasty all-Premier League clashes.
Chelsea welcome Liverpool to Stamford Bridge for the second time in 10 days while at the Emirates, Arsenal host league leaders Manchester City. Steve Kean’s Blackburn face a tricky trip to Wales where they take on Cardiff City.
