Republic of Ireland Senior Football Team Results 2005 to 2009

Despite a promising start to the 2006 Soccer World Cup qualifying campaign, particularly good results such as away draws with Switzerland and France, the wheels began to come off with two relatively poor results home and away against Israel.

In both matches Ireland appeared to have the advantage yet could not deliver the killer blow and surrendering the lead in each match. To compound that Brian Kerr’s Ireland could not capitalise on the achievements away from home when France snatched a 0-1 win at Lansdowne Road (now the Aviva Stadium) and Switzerland came away with a draw.

The result was that Ireland finished in a disastrous fourth place, a point behind Israel. In a somewhat cringe-inducing appearance on RTE’s Late Late Show with Pat Kenny, Brian Kerr appealed to the public to support his view that the FAI should renew his contract as Republic of Ireland football manager. Unfortunately for Brian Kerr his pleas fell on deaf ears.

Steve Staunton Appointed Republic of Ireland Manager

In a bolt out of the blue the FAI appointed record Irish cap holder Stephen Staunton as the Irish national team manager in January 2006. The FAI also appointed former England manager, Bobby Robson, to Staunton’s backroom staff in an attempt to shore up his lack of experience. Irish soccer supporters and football pundits were extremely sceptical due to Staunton’s absolute lack of managerial experience. Regardless of what fans and experts thought at the time it would be results on the soccer pitch that would matter most

After a creditable away loss to the mighty Germans – the result 1-0 – in the Euro 2008 qualifiers things went really wrong for the young Irish manager when Ireland lost 5-2 in Nicosia to Cyprus. Following this shambles of a performance the writing was on the wall for Stephen Staunton. It would have taken some almost miraculous performances from the Irish team to have saved his position as Irish soccer team manager.

The FAI did not wait for the end of the qualifying campaign to terminate Staunton’s appointment. In October 2007 Stephen Staunton was dismissed from his role as Republic of Ireland manager. It was the shortest reign of a full time Irish soccer manager in the modern football era.

Giovanni Trapattoni Appointed Republic of Ireland Manager

In a dramatic swing from the ridiculous to the sublime the FAI went from the appointment of a manager with no experience, to the appointment of the vastly experienced and successful Italian Giovanni Trapattoni. With the financial support of Irish businessman Denis O’Brien the FAI were in a position to make this hugely popular appointment.

Trapattoni appointed ex-Italian international Marco Tardelli and ex-Irish international Liam Brady as assistant managers. Giovanni Trapattoni made a steady if unspectacular start to his career as manager of the Republic of Ireland soccer team.

Republic of Ireland Match Results 2005 to 2009 (inclusive)

Scores in parentheses are half-time scores