Dutch Football Legend Announces Interest in Ireland Manager¡¦s Job

Dutch Football Legend Announces Interest in Ireland Manager¡¦s Job

November 27, 2007

    HONG KONG, Nov. 27 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Dutch
football legend Arie Haan today announced his interest in
the vacant position of Ireland team manager. 

The winner of five European cup medals and veteran of two
World Cup finals is relishing a new challenge after ending
a recent stint as Cameroon coach.

    "The Irish team has some talented players such as
Robbie Keane and Stephen Ireland and the lads have a great
fighting spirit, which I always admired when playing
against them.  The team has great potential and I¡¦d love
to get involved," said Haan in a statement issued via
his Hong Kong based agent, Mark Mullan.

    Haan, who is regarded as one of Holland¡¦s greatest
ever midfielders, has a proven track record of turning
things around quickly at the clubs he¡¦s managed.

    In his first full season as a manager, Haan won the
Belgian First Division championship with former club
Anderlecht in 1986.  The same year, the Belgian giants
reached the semifinals of the European Champions¡¦ Cup. 
Haan secured a second championship before leaving the club
to coach Stuttgart in 1987. 

    The Dutch coach brought the German side to the final of
the UEFA cup in1989, but an in-form Diego Maradona helped
seal a 2-1 victory for opponents F.C. Napoli. 

    Haan took on his first national team role in 2003 as
manager of China, bringing the Chinese to the final of the
Asian Cup against Japan in 2004. The Dutchman and his
assistant, Theo de Jong, reinvigorated a Chinese national
side that had been humiliated during the World Cup campaign
of 2002. The coach won widespread praise for the attractive,
yet effective, brand of football he instilled in the squad.


    "Arie Haan is exactly the kind of coach Ireland
needs right now.  He¡¦s managed teams in seven different
countries and has worked wit players such as Juergen
Klinnsman, Ronald Koeman and Samuel Etoo. He¡¦s the perfect
mix of experience, intelligence and tactical mastery,"
said Mark Mullan. 

    The former Ajax, Anderlecht and PSV Eindhoven stalwart
has worked with Rinus Michels and other coaching legends
such as Stefan Kovacs, Raymond Goethals and Ernst Happel
and is known for his shrewd football mind. 

    "What Ireland needs now is someone who can
energize the players and bring us the success we deserve. 
Arie identifies closely with the Irish supporters¡¦
expectations for success.  If given the opportunity, he
believes he can make the team one of the best in
Europe," said Mullan.

    "Arie would like to build a team that will qualify
for the next world cup in South Africa and go beyond".

 
    For more information, please contact:

     Mark Mullan
     Tel:   [phone] 
     Email: [e-mail]