Before you try to make any arguments that Ireland, under the direction of well-traveled, well-versed coach Giovanni Trapattoni, doesn’t look a little too stodgy, a little too Italian old school in its devotion to Trapattoni’s roots, the Catenaccio, the all-about-defense style that all those old, successful Italian sides hung their old hats on, before you attempt to make any such a case, you had better consider this:
Trapattoni is, in fact, about to become the oldest coach ever to lead a squad at a European Championship.
UEFA has all the numbers here.
It says Trapattoni, at 73 years and 85 days, will be the oldest Euro gaffer yet when Ireland meets Croatia on Sunday.
The previous mark for aged wisdom in directing a squad was Austrian-born Otto Barić had just turned 71 when he oversaw Croatia at Euro 2004.
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