Keane: Happy is the man whose hobby is also his career

The local security man on duty at the media entrance to the stadium in Poznan on Tuesday night had one pressing question on his mind for the Irish journalist: where oh where was Giovanni Trapattoni?

Conscious that I was about to break bad news to someone who had clearly been anticipating an appearance by one of world football’s legendary figures, I told him as gently as I could that, well, old Trap had been given the order of the boot.

One of the most, shall we say, theatrical members of the bouncing profession I have ever encountered, he reacted to these tidings with almost operatic shock: eyes wide open, mouth agape and a high-pitched “Oh my gosh”.