Eire: Italian Giovanni Trapattoni resigned as coach

Giovanni Trapattoni has resigned as coach of Ireland, the ISP (Irish Football Association) announced on the 11/09/2013. The team, which lost against Austria (1-0 on the 10/09/2013) is virtually eliminated from qualifying for the 2014 World Cup (fourth in Group C of the Euro zone, 11 points). With still two matches to play, it has six points behind Sweden, the second of the group.

"I thank all those who supported the team when I managed it. We (with his assistant Marco Tradelli) leave this country with emotion because we understand the Irish supporters, who have a well-deserved international reputation and they have our utmost respect, "said Giovanni Trapattoni, the 11/09/2013.

"We thank Giovanni Trapattoni, Marco Tardelli and for the last five and a half years during which we qualified for our first major tournament in ten years (Euro 2012) and were close to qualification for the 2010 World Cup, during the play-off against France. This particular World Cup campaign has been disappointing but Giovanni leaves us with a group of good young players which should form the basis of the…