Tommy Martin: If Brady has fallen out of love, is the beautiful game truly gone? 

About the time that Brady was being forced to sit through one last humdrum Republic of Ireland qualifier, it was confirmed that Wolves were selling their 26-year-old captain Ruben Neves to Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia for €55 million.

END OF AN ERA: Liam Brady with Ray Houghton before the Gibraltar game. Pic Credit ©INPHO/Morgan Treacy

Nothing became Liam Brady’s time in the pundit’s chair than his leaving it.

Chippy departed with little fanfare, a qualifier with Gibraltar in the company of Didi Hamann having to make do for a send-off.