Italian Giovanni Trapattoni, the seven-time Serie A winner and former Italy coach, confirmed Wednesday that he is set to take the helm of Ireland's national soccer team at the end of the season.
The Football Association of Ireland is to confirm the appointment of a successor to Steve Staunton, who was fired in November when the team failed to qualify for the European Championship.
The 68-year-old Trapattoni, who is going for his 11th career league title with Salzburg of Austria, will sign a two-year contract.
The appointment means that Trapattoni will be up against his native Italy when qualifying for the 2010 World Cup begins this year. Ireland plays at Italy in qualifying Group Eight on April 1,2009.
Trapattoni has been with Salzburg since May 2006, four months after he was fired by Germany's Stuttgart midway through a lackluster first season.
But he has won six Italian titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan, the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich, the Portuguese league with Benfica and the Austrian league with Salzburg.
He has also won three UEFA Cups, the Cup Winners' Cup, the European Super Cup and the European Cup with Juventus.
Source:Xinhua
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