McCarthy's second chance to save Sunderland

As a player, Mick McCarthy’s solid and uncomplicated career was perhaps best summed up by his reaction after the Republic of Ireland lost a tight and tense European Championship match with Holland in 1988.

He sought out Dutch star Ruud Gullit, a man whose talents he had more than adequately shackled that day, implored him to swap shirts and later quipped: “When he gets mine home he’ll wonder who the bloody hell’s it is.”