GIOVANNI TRAPATTONI has said he turned down a number of other job offers in order to succeed Steve Staunton as the Republic of Ireland for personal reasons. The FAI's willingness to allow the 68-year-old base himself at home in Milan appears to have been a significant factor in the former Juventus and Bayern Munich coach's decision to accept the Ireland role.
"I received offers from other countries," says Trapattoni. "There were three or four national teams. They were better projects but more risky from a personal standpoint."
It is believed representatives of the Italian had received approaches from associations in Ukraine, Australia and the United Arab Emirates.
The players available to the Ukraine and Australia would be spread across a wide array of national leagues, and with Trapattoni having already stated he wanted to spend more time with his family, the more straightforward nature of the Ireland job was one thing that attracted him.
The manager is also said to have received a late approach about a return to Serie A, but preferred to move back into the international arena.
But Trapattoni insists he has not accepted the role merely to ease himself into retirement. Speaking with the New York Times after a Red Bull Salzburg match last week, the Italian was adamant he can help a young Irish squad to achieve their potential over the next couple of years.
"At the moment I think, for me, Ireland is like this team in Austria when I arrived," he says. "They are at the moment not good. They need someone they can trust and I think I can work there to help their quality.
"Until May I will stay here," he said with regard to Salzburg. "We will win the season (title), then I will have to go to Ireland and prepare. To qualify for the World Cup in 2010 we will have to do a great job, (but) to achieve qualification would be a great satisfaction for me and a great joy for Ireland."
It has been widely suggested that one of the things that attracted Trapattoni to his new job is his failure to make an impact as manager of the Italian team between 2000 and 2004. The team performed poorly at both the 2002 World Cup and the European Championship in Portugal two years later, a stark contrast with the success he has enjoyed at club level.
A major factor, he observes, is that with a club the manager is in a position to exert a good deal more control over the development of his players. "There is a big difference, because with teams you can do things every day," he says. "The exercise, mentality and control, the conditioning, they are up to you. With a national team, the players come from other teams and you only have a few days with them.
"It is not an easy job. Whether it is England, Italy, Ireland or Austria, there is a very big difference."
Trapattoni's decision to take the Ireland job followed the appointment if his old rival, Fabio Capello, as England manager. But Trapattoni was quick to point out the pair will have somewhat different groups to work with.
"It is different for the players from England - they are famous," he says. "In Ireland, I am a little lucky because there are some 15 players in the top league in England. So I think they know of international football. But I will need their trust, because their last result (campaign) was not very good. It is a young team and this is a very important moment."
