Swedish coach backs Stan and Bobby to achieve success

SWEDISH coach Lars Lagerback believes Ireland’s unorthodox managerial team of Steve Staunton and Bobby Robson has the ingredients to work.

Lagerback has overseen the fortunes of his national side for six years, but spent the first four of those as co-manager alongside Tommy Soderberg who stepped down after Euro 2004.

After a difficult beginning where the team flopped at Euro 2000, the double act that was fondly referred to as ‘Lars-Tommy’ worked smoothly enough to see Sweden through to the World Cup in 2002 and the European Championships two years later.