Jack Charlton: The man who gave us the best days of our lives

Jack Charlton led the band. He brought us to places we never thought possible beforehand and gave us so many precious moments.

Honorary Irish man: Former Republicmanager Jack Charlton is introduced to the crowd before the friendly game at the Aviva Stadium against his native England. Picture: David Maher, Sportsfile

Mick McCarthy and Niall Quinn have led Irish football tributes to Jack Charlton, the Republic manager whose 'pressure' game put Ireland on the world stage with pride and passion and dared a nation to dream.

Both were there when Big Jack stunned his native England at Euro ’88, both were on the pitch when Jack led Ireland into the World Cup quarter-final against Italy two years later and both watched from the stands as Jack gained revenge on the Italians at the 1994 World Cup.