Trapattoni back in firing line

Giovanni Trapattoni announces his squad for the World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands and the end of season friendlies against England, Georgia and Spain in Carrick-on-Shannon today but the media present will be initially concerned with seeking clarity about the manager’s future.

The issue might have dogged the Italian since last summer’s European Championship finals but the difference this time is that the speculation has been prompted by his own words in an interview with an Italian newspaper.

Quoted by Il Mattino, the 74-year-old appeared to hint he would be interested in becoming the manager of Napoli, the club where current boss Walter Mazzari has yet to agree a new deal after his contract runs out in June.