Arie Haan¡¦s Agent Calls on Irish Football Fans for Help

Arie Haan¡¦s Agent Calls on Irish Football Fans for Help

November 29, 2007

    HONG KONG, Nov. 29 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Arie Haan¡¦s
agent today urged Irish football fans to unite behind his
candidate for the Irish manager¡¦s job.

    "It¡¦s time to break with the past and move on
from the age of the gaffer to the ¡¥Haan Dynasty¡¦,"
said the Hong Kong based sports agent, Mark Mullan.

    Mr Mullan, who submitted the Holland legend¡¦s
application to the FAI on Wednesday, is urging fans to
unite behind the Dutchman in order to avoid ¡¥another
managerial fiasco:

    "It¡¦s not too late if we act now.  Terry Venables
may be popular with some people, but there is also a lot of
discontent out there.  A lot of people want a clean break
with the style of the past. And Arie Haan is the perfect
man for the job -- a combination of experience, success and
tactical mastery."

    Haan, who was in Beijing Wednesday to offer advice to
the Chinese Football Association, said the Irish job would
be perfect for him.

    "I have always admired the fighting spirit of the
Irish, but the current squad also has some gifted technical
players.  I think I could really turn things around,"
said Haan in a statement issued via his media
representative.

    "Ireland has its own particular style.  But I am
from Holland, where we have different ideas on how to play.
 If we can match the two styles, I think it would be
perfect.

    "As a player, I played against Liam Brady and
George Best and had the highest respect for them.  I know
that Best played for Northern Ireland, but the attitude was
the same.  Both were gentlemen.  My agent and spokesperson
are Irish, so I know I can definitely work with the Irish. 
And I love the fans."

    In a number of interviews on Wednesday, Haan reiterated
his interest in a new challenge, after quitting as Cameroon
boss in February:

    "I am itching to get involved in management again
and work in Europe," said the Stuttgart-based
Dutchman, who speaks fluent English.

    "There are a lot of top candidates for this job. 
But all I can say is that I bring a lot of experience and
success, and maybe it¡¦s also time for Ireland to have a
continental coach.

    "If you keep the same mentality not much will
change.  Also, to win, the players need a coach and staff
around them who know what it is to win.  And all my life I
have won a lot more than I lost," said the five-time
European Cup winner and veteran of two World Cup finals.

    For more details, please contact,

     Enda Brogan: Media Rep
     Tel:   [phone]
     Email: [e-mail] or [e-mail]