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Sports Central by Cian Fahey

Stephen Ireland reportedly labels Giovanni Trapattoni "Arrogant" and severs all ties with Ireland

Posted on Friday, March 04, 2011 at 04:31 AM

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Stephen Ireland has finally put an end to any slim chances of him returning to the Irish soccer setup in the future.

In an interview with a French magazine, So Foot, Ireland launched into a tirade about his treatment at Aston Villa under Gerrard Houllier before setting his sights on his 'homeland.'

He claims to have "better things to do" than play for Ireland and elaborates like a scornful teenager by saying; "National teams don't interest me...And when you are Irish, you are well aware you'll never win the World Cup...I won’t come back. I feel nothing for the national team. I don’t feel at all guilty when they lose and when they win I never say 'oh dear, I could have been there.'"

Ireland retired from international football with his native Republic of Ireland four years ago, but he has no regrets and insists he feels nothing for his homeland, "I don't give a damn for Ireland. Live in Cork? I'd rather shoot myself. I prefer Los Angeles."

"Even if Ireland had qualified for the World Cup, I wouldn't have gone. People call for my return, but I have only played five times for them. The national team and me are ancient history."

Ireland fans can finally forget about the Cobh midfielder. He does not want to play for his country and as an Irish fan, I for one don't want him after this.

Looking at young players like Greg Cunningham and in particular Seamus Coleman and James McCarthy, Ireland have some bright young players emerging who should be the focus of the team over the next few years.

*Ireland has since refuted that the interview with So Foot was taken out of context.

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Fightin69th | Mar 07, 2011, 03:46 PM EST

Reading the Comments, I find it funny that Roy Keane's name is been thrown around. That is an insult to Roy Keane. Yes Roy Keane, walked out on Ireland in Saipan, because the FAI bolooxed the entire preperations & set-up. The training pitch was a disaster, no equipment was there for training, the travel plans were bought off the Dutch who failed to make it to the Finals that year. Roy's problem was with the FAI & The Set-Up. He said that he would return when McCarthy was no longer manager, and he did. I have respect for both Keane & McCarthy, but Stephen Ireland hasn't earned my respect. He shouldn't even be a topic of conversation.....if he ever returns to the green shirt, he'll have allot of work to do, to earn the fans back. We remember Granny-Gate. Hopefully with his time away from the international scene, hoepfully he'll be repainting his house.....Hot pink walls are an eye-sore!!

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GeorgeDillon | Mar 06, 2011, 09:52 AM EST

He sure has the ugliest tattoo I've ever seen.

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gwen1980 | Mar 05, 2011, 08:28 PM EST

Stephens girlfriend called the manager and told him that Stephans grandmother had died. That was his way out of the dressing room because he didnt want to tell everyone the real reason, which was none of their business. His girlfriend had just had a miscarriage and obviously distraught. He went home to her, what would you do Sparklet?

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Sparklet | Mar 05, 2011, 09:31 AM EST

I think this is the young man who claimed to have missed a game or training because he was at his Grandmother's funeral, but she wasn't dead.

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xushuhua62 | Mar 05, 2011, 07:55 AM EST

%vboe4yl

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gwen1980 | Mar 04, 2011, 07:27 PM EST

Its a shame what happened in the dressing room, back then nobody cared for Stephen Ireland, he obviously wanted to play for Ireland, he was there, but he was treated with such disrespect from everyone, managers included, he decided to hell with, i dont need this. All of a sudden he is scoring and assisting plentiful goals for Man city and evryone wants him back on the panel again, trapatonni is on the phone. You know what Republic of Ireland? you had your chance and you blew it. Now the whole media frenzy of why wont he play for us? ah sure he is an oddball, look at the tatoo on his back and the pink rim's on his Land Rover, Jesus look at the funny house he built. Stephen Ireland is a god given talent and the country of Ireland is not better off without him. Pure and simple. Get rid of the old manager and the old boys like Robbie Keane and let Stephen teach the likes of Coleman and McCarthy a few tricks

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seanomelbourne | Mar 04, 2011, 05:06 PM EST

Good riddance

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Cianaf91 | Mar 04, 2011, 12:35 PM EST

"Cian, you havent a clue what your on about." Last I checked soccer was a team sport and you don't say these things about people that you would potentially be playing with. Am I wrong to not want him in the squad? He would be a disruptive influence and talent can only take you so far. He may not have been treated very well in the past, personally I think the whole thing with Duff and his hair was blown out of proportion, but there is a level of maturity that is required in people irrespective of what their occupation is that is lacking in Stephen Ireland. The Irish are better of without him. Yes I do have a clue what I'm on about as I'm sure you do but our perspectives and opinions differ.

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gwen1980 | Mar 04, 2011, 11:55 AM EST

In fairness he got treated terribly by Ireland when he did play for them, he was held down in a dressing room by fellow players and his hair pulled at to see if it was a wig, it was not a wig. Trapatonni is an arrogant old man and Cork is a dump. He may not be playing fantastic at the moment but he is a quality player and a loss to any team.He does a lot of work with charity on his spare time. Look at the way Ireland treated Roy Keane, best player ever. Cian, you havent a clue what your on about.

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cillowen | Mar 04, 2011, 11:16 AM EST

a bird with wings. another nutcase - the tatooed back speaks volumes. a zero - with partner's children, hopefully not his sporting genes. A publicity birddog.

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cillowen | Mar 04, 2011, 11:13 AM EST

another nutcase - the tatooed back speaks volumes. a zero - with his partner's children hopefully not his genes.

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Fightin69th | Mar 04, 2011, 10:56 AM EST

He's making these statements because this is the only way he can get his name in the papers. His play is not getting him in the headlines, his lack of play is. The Irish Team are moving on without him, the irish fans are moving on without him and As a Corkman I don't even respect him, he's an insult to all of us in Cork.

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bunkerisland | Mar 04, 2011, 10:42 AM EST

Too bad he wasn't in Cork for the flooding since he can't swim.

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brennanirish | Mar 04, 2011, 10:01 AM EST

For all the factionalism and divide in the United States, a major American athlete could not get away with such comments against his "homeland". Why anyone one in Ireland would suport this jerk is beyond me.....

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