Capello and Trapattoni are 10 years apart but, in relating to players, they could be from the same womb


Giovanni Trapattoni and Liam Brady will scarcely need to rehearse any bad-cop, good-cop routines if, as seems likely, they revive a partnership underpinned by their days at Juventus -- a classic relationship between a master coach and a player of both superior talent and competitive mentality.

Brady, perhaps while coaxing back into the fold the hauntingly gifted Stephen Ireland, has the paternal touch developed as overseer of Arsenal's apparently endless stream of young virtuosos and then if somewhere along the road a touch of serious discipline is required, it is of course implicit in the Trapattoni deal.

Which would you prefer? A little ungentle persuasion by the gardai or that now celebrated YouTube glimpse of a displeased Trapattoni bursting into life?

The truth appears to be that even in this celebrity age, extravagantly rewarded footballers still yearn, in some case maybe subconsciously, for the force of strong leadership. Footballers are, by the nature of their existence, insecure. They clamour for some of the certainties of life that can be so elusive in a world where disaster can be just one game away.

A powerful reminder of this old truth has come with the extraordinary impact on the England team of Trapattoni's compatriot Fabio Capello.

Nearly a decade separates the two men, but in their achievements and their priorities it appears they might have come from the same womb and at roughly the same time. Interestingly, both expressed interest in the challenge of picking up the pieces of England left by the disastrous period under the control of Sven Goran Eriksson and Steve McClaren. What they saw was an alleged superpower dwindling almost beyond sight for the lack of some of the most fundamental qualities of a successful team: basic discipline, continuity, and, perhaps most of all, the command of someone who could quite simply tell them what to do, on and off the field.

While the younger man won what most would regard as the more demanding challenge -- and a commensurate salary -- the task ahead of Trapattoni in Ireland is remarkably similar.

He has to fill a void left by inadequate leadership. In Ireland's case this was due to the flimsiest of experience. First Brian Kerr, then Steve Staunton were invited to cover ground they had never known before. Capello's inheritance was a complete breakdown in any sense that superstars like David Beckham, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen were answerable to much else beyond their own demands on themselves.

For Ireland now, confidence in their wisdom of their choice, of the man and the tradition he represents, can only be hugely enhanced by the initial impact of Capello on England.

Last week's 2-1 friendly victory over Switzerland may not have lit up the sky above North London but the aura surrounding the new coach, his style, his unforced authority, plus the fact that the rejected, unfit David Beckham was flying back to La-La land in a spectacular huff and that Owen was apparently in a state of shock that he had not even been invited off the bench, was nothing less than astonishing. Afterwards, questions which might have troubled Sven and McClaren bounced off Capello as though they were paper arrows.

Was he troubled by cries of support for Beckham (before his replacement David Bentley settled into a performance of thrilling promise)? Why should he be troubled, Capello asked. Players made themselves popular with fans for various reasons, but none of them had anything to do with the coach.

He saw players in a different light, the most significant illuminating what they might contribute to the team. Yes, he respected Michael Owen, but all players were level when it came to one of his selections.

Puzzled

Was Capello worried about any possible adverse reaction from Alex Ferguson or Rafa Benitez for the unusually extended playing time for Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard. Capello was only briefly puzzled. Then he said that he had a job to do and the most important aspect was assessing the quality of his new players in the course of the game, not just the cameo roles Eriksson, particularly, threw around like confetti.

Maybe the most eloquent point made by Capello was found in the demeanour of his players. If they were smarting over new requirements, like dressing properly, attending meals punctually, clearing the team hotel of agents and other hangers-on, the majority did not show it. Indeed, some could not recall a more statesman-like after-match performance from temporary captain Gerrard.

It happened that Gerrard produced a display of remarkable composure. His play had a thread of coherence that so often had not accompanied his rampaging instincts while on international duty. Yes, he said, there was so much to do but the atmosphere in the team was good. There was a high commitment.

YouTube may not have been drawn to the post-game performance of Capello. But that did not separate him from Giovanni Trapattoni. As his somewhat more volatile countryman had done at a time of bitter disappointment in the performance of key players, he had made clear his potential for anger if his values were ever ignored. In this, they shared, absolutely, one abiding emotion.

The good news for both England and Ireland is that it is an unrelenting rage to win.