Tardelli keen on succeeding Trap

Marco Tardelli has said that he would like to take the reins of the Republic of Ireland team after Giovanni Trapattoni.

The assistant manager had previously been backed by his former colleague Liam Brady as the logical choice to fill the veteran Italian’s shoes but, until now, Tardelli himself has stopped short of explicitly staking a claim on the top job in Irish football.

However, speaking at the launch of a nationwide five-a-side competition in the Aviva Stadium yesterday, the 56-year-old declared his interest.