Ireland have named former Internazionale coach Marco Tardelli as assistant, a day after announcing the appointment of fellow Italian Giovanni Trapattoni as national coach.

"We are delighted that such an experienced coach as Marco Tardelli has agreed to join Giovanni Trapattoni's backroom team," Football Association of Ireland president David Blood said in a statement.

Tardelli had met with FAI representatives, including chief executive John Delaney, in Milan on Tuesday to agree a two-year contract.

Having played under Trapattoni at Juventus in the 1970s and 80s, Tardelli said earlier he was looking forward to being reunited with one of Europe's most successful coaches.

"I'm stimulated by the idea of having to face Italy (in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers)," he told Italian radio.

"I like the idea of being for Trapattoni what (Carlos) Queiroz is for Alex Ferguson at Manchester United."

Ireland have been drawn with world champions Italy, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Georgia and Montenegro in qualifying Group Eight for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Their last manager, Steve Staunton, was sacked last year after Ireland failed to qualify for the finals of Euro 2008.

Tardelli was a member of Italy's 1982 World Cup-winning team and as a coach led the Italian Under-21 side to victory at the 2000 European championships.

He subsequently had unsuccessful stints with Inter, Bari and Arezzo in the Italian second division and Egypt's national team.

Former Ireland midfielder Liam Brady, who played with Tardelli at Juventus, said earlier he was also interested in a possible role within the national team but not at the expense of his job as head of youth development at Arsenal.

Reuters