Interim Ireland job delights Carlo Cudicini
Noel King added the former Chelsea goalkeeper to his backroom staff yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s opening Uefa qualifier against Andorra in Waterford.
Cudicini replaces veteran goalkeeping coach Alan O’Neill, who has been forced to retire from the role due to work commitments.
Having commenced acquiring his Uefa coaching badges through the FAI in recent years, Cudicini became familiar with King and was called upon to fill the vacancy, on an interim basis.
The 41-year-old recently completed his B license, on the same course as his friend and former team-mate Robbie Keane, and is putting those techniques to use as a member of QPR’s Academy staff. Returning to the international fold 22 years after his sole U21 cap was earned is a welcome opportunity which Cudicini is eager to embrace.
“It was a no-brainer when Noel asked me to join the squad,” said the Italian yesterday.
“I enjoyed taking my first coaching badge in Ireland and I’m hoping to do my next one (A licence) here too. My good friend Robbie Keane was actually the reason for me doing the course in Ireland. I learned a lot from the FAI tutors and here is an opportunity for me to gain experience of working in international football. “I wouldn’t know the two goalkeepers in Noel’s squad but it will be good to see them in different situations and evaluate what’s going on. The final decision on selection is down to Noel.”
Despite enjoying a high-profile club career, Cudicini didn’t add an international dimension to his repertoire. That was primarily down to unfortunate timing as he emerged onto the scene around the same time was one of the Azzurri’s greatest-ever goalkeepers, Gigi Buffon. At one stage, his predicament led to speculation he might declare for England instead.
“Gigi Buffon and Francesco Toldo were brilliant goalkeepers for Italy, yet less so for me,” he quipped. “I played all the way through the underage teams and got one U21 cap but it didn’t help that I was playing abroad because they (the national team) didn’t like that.”
As for talk of him defecting to England?: “Well, that was fantasy football,” he retorted.
King, meanwhile, is still not taking it as definite that Jack Grealish will resume his Ireland career in September, as the Aston Villa winger indicated on Sunday. The U21 playmaker revealed he informed King of his intention to take a year-long break from international football. “We don’t know, do we?” said King about Grealish’s stated comeback. “That was the plan when we spoke at the start of the season and we’ll take it as it happens.
“Things can change, you never know. Nobody is putting any pressure on him to make a decision. We’re in no hurry.”
Meanwhile, Reading pair Sean Long and Pierce Sweeney have replaced the injured pair Bradley Garmston and Niall Keown in the squad.
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