The Irish football team’s, 71-year-old, manager Giovanni Trapattoni is recovering in Milan following a scheduled surgery on his carotid artery in Milan on December 28. He plans to travel to Dublin this month to announce the squad for the Carling Nations Cup match against Wales.
 
He said “I had a scheduled operation to clean the carotid artery on December 28 in Milan.
 
"I am recovering well and expect to return to work in the coming weeks.
 
"Contrary to media speculation, I can confirm that I have not suffered a stroke.
 
"I will be in Ireland on January 24 to announce my squad for the Carling Nations Cup match against Wales on February 8."
 
In August Trapattoni spent several days in Dublin’s Mater Hospital having suffered from abdominal pains. They were a result of scar tissue from a previous procedure.
 
The Irish team are currently in second place in Group B. They’re level, on seven points, with Armenia and Slovakia and two behind the leader, Russia. Russia beat Ireland 3-2 in Dublin on October 8, 2010.
 
They will play against Macedonia this March and then travel to the former Yugoslavian republic in June.
 
Last summer, under Trapattoni, the Republic of Ireland team came close to reaching the World Cup finals in South Africa. However they missed out on the competition due to a controversial play-off against France.