GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI’S IRELAND side may have only managed a draw at home to Estonia last night, but it looks to have won him a new contract.
Ireland booked their spot in next summer’s European Championship finals in Ukraine and Poland thanks to last night’s Lansdowne Rd result and the 4-0 rout in Tallinn last Friday night.
And, after months of speculation, the FAI now seem ready to secure the Italian’s services for another campaign.
“That’s not for tonight, but what I would say is he’s been brilliant to work with,” association chief John Delaney told TV camera afterwards, “For me it’s been a pleasure.
“The board will meet in the next couple of weeks and we’ll sit down with Giovanni and we’ll discuss what can happen in the future. I think that should happen sooner rather than later.
“But what I would say is, has Giovanni Trapattoni taken us forward? Yes, he has. Four years ago, where were we? Today we’re in a far better place. We’re qualified and the country is going to erupt tonight.”