The Irish Football Association has confirmed the appointment of Giovanni Trapattoni as the new manager of the national soccer team.

The former Italy coach, who has agreed a two-year deal, will leave Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg at the end of this season and his first game in charge will be the friendly against Serbia on May 24th at Croke Park.

FAI chief executive John Delaney revealed on Wednesday that Trapattoni's salary will be partly funded by Irish businessman Denis O'Brien, who volunteered to offer the sponsorship.

"This offer of financial assistance was a pivotal moment in the recruitment process because it enabled us to raise the bar higher than we had intended," Delaney said in a press conference.

Trapattoni is confident to lead the Republic to the 2010 World Cup finals and believes they can finish top of a group which also includes his countrymen.

"Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard, and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first," said Trapattoni, who coached Italy from 2000 to 2004.

He is keen on Arsenal youth coach and ex-Ireland midfielder Liam Brady as his assistant, who worked with him at Juventus in the early 1980s.

The veteran Italian coach, 68, won six Serie A titles with Juventus and one with Inter Milan. He also led Bayern Munich, Benfica and Salzburg to league titles.

(Xinhua News Agency February 14, 2008)