On the eve of St Valentine's Day the FAI headhunters finally revealed they have succesfully wooed the man to succeed Steve Staunton, but Giovanni Trapattoni would have been out of reach had it not been for a cash injection from businessman and "Ireland fan" Denis O'Brien.
The FAI enthusiastically confirmed the 113-day search was over this afternoon and that the former Juventus boss will take up a two-year-deal on May 1st after the end of his Austrian league commitments with Red Bull Salzburg.
He will therefore be in charge for the international friendly with Serbia on May 24th, with the possibility of another fixture being arranged so he can familiarise himself with the team ahead of the World Cup qualifying campaign which starts in September.
The two-year contract can be extended if both parties are satisfied with the progress, though it is not clear whether O'Brien will be as generous if it is renewed.
O'Brien's offer, which came in November, is for 50 per cent of the salaries of the manager and his assistant. It was a "pivotal moment" in the recruitment process, according to chief executive John Delaney, and allowed the Don Givens and his recruiters to raise the bar in terms of candidates.
"He (O'Brien) indicated he would be prepared to sponsor part of the new manager's salary in order to insure that money was not an insurmountable obstacle in getting the best possible person for the position," explained Delaney. "He stressed that he did not want to influence any decision, nor did he want tickets or sponsorship opportunities in return."
Speaking tonight O'Brien said he offered the money because he is "a great believer (that) if you hire the right people you get the right results."
He added that the credit for the high-profile appointment should go to the FAI and its headhunters. "I think there's maybe 10 people involved in this. I think all the credit should go to John Delaney and the committee and I think the FAI," he said.
"The criticism they have received over the last three months was very, very hard but they stuck to their guns and now they've the right man."
Delaney would not reveal today what the new manager would be earning but his salary with Salzburg was approximately €1.4 million, which was a figure that was not far out of the reach of the FAI. Early reports suggest it is in the region of €2 million for the coach alone.
The chief executive was at pains to point out that there was no interference from the association in the process. Givens echoed that point, saying he and fellow selection panellist Ray Houghton would not have tolerated it.
The third member of the panel, Don Howe, who is a close friend of the other frontrunner Terry Venables, was not present due to family commitments.
Earlier, Trapattoni confirmed the deal to the Salzburg website. His decision to break his silence and confirm the move himself was a relief to all who felt the FAI were still capable of messing this up.
However, whether it has been by accident or design, the three-man headhunting panel has got the best available candidate, and ultimately that's what was asked of them. Their achievement, even if with a little extra financial clout, is no mean feat considering Trapattoni's admission this afternoon that he had many suitors.
The Italian also revealed that he was keen to call on his former Juventus player Liam Brady, to assist him, though an official post for the Arsenal youth coach looks unlikely.
"I know Liam from our mutual time at Juventus," said Trapattoni. "I called him and asked him for his thoughts on my commitment with the FAI, and when he said it was okay, I asked him for assistance if needed.
"I am positive that Arsene Wenger, who is a friend of mine, will lend me Liam's services if I called him."
Brady, according to Givens, played a pivotal role in selling the job to Trapattoni after the under-21 manager succeeded in making contact through Gilbert Facchinetti, the one-time president of his former club Neuchâtel Xamax.
Until Trapattoni addresses the press directly the identity of his backroom team will not be known for sure, but it is believed he will bring with him former Italy star Claudio Gentile as his assistant and Fausto Rossi as fitness coach.
His admission that the Irish job will allow him more time with his family will concern some but his subsequent declaration that "Ireland are not a second-rate team, they are supposed to be a first-rate team," will encourage Ireland fans.
"Qualifying for the World Cup in 2010 will be hard," he added, "and playing against the Italian team will make me proud, but it should be possible for Ireland to come first."
When the former AC Milan player entered the running, only long-term favourite Venables stood in his way, and even he, having managed Barcelona, England and Spurs, could not hold a candle to the Italian's record.
The eagerness of some players to see the affable Englishman appointed was further warning that he was the wrong man for the job. In Trapattoni, they now have someone who does not suffer fools and who knows how to win.
The 68-year-old has won 10 titles and myriad of cups in his club management career so far. If he keeps his parting promise to his club he will have 11 titles before he takes charge of the rudderless Irish ship.
"Leaving the title as a farewell present to my Bulls is now my number one aim," said the man, who claims to have never broken a contract and once described the modern player of being in need of a psychologist, a father figure and even a priest.
Trapattoni's last taste of international management came with Italy, who he led to the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2004. However, after a shock second round exit to South Korea in the former, he was not kept on by the Italian FA when the Azzurri failed to progress from their group in Portugal four years ago.
