Robbie Brady hints at retirement plans as Ireland hero declares they are ‘fully focused' on World Cup qualification bid
The 33-year-old was this week named the
2
Robbie Brady remains a key figure for Ireland
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
2
He was named POTY for the first time since his heroics at Euro 2016
Credit: Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images
It was the first time the
His importance to the team, in a role where there are few options — left-back — even meant
While every other
summer
off, Brady is in camp.
Hallgrimsson said: 'First of all he is a good footballer. But for us with his experience, his knowledge, his character, his leadership skills, it is really important for us to have a player like him because we have such a young squad that is lacking the experience we need to play on the big stage.
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'We are really fortunate to have him — Doc [Matt Doherty] as well, similar age, similar experience, so all teams need quality players and leaders like him.'
And Brady does not mind being asked to slug it out in training when many of his peers are lying on the beach.
The 33-year-old smiled: 'It's all right, I had a couple of weeks' break and kept myself ticking over for these games coming. I am feeling good.'
His season went well at club level. Last week he signed a new
next
year. He has made 378 top-level appearances in
Most read in Football
Every
Even though he
'You can't make this up' - Irish fans in stitches at Ruesha Littlejohn's playful prank upon Katie McCabe's camp arrival
He continued: 'This one means a little bit more to me — 2016, I was a lot younger and playing really well at the time.
'Not that I expected to win then because I was in a really good team, but I was in really good form.
'To come back now, after a little time out, the group and staff have helped me to get back to a level where I feel comfortable.
'I am playing some good
football
at the minute and really enjoying it, so it means a lot to me.'
There is also the knowledge of how quickly it can be taken away.
LONG WAY BACK
His award-winning season is all the more remarkable considering the fact that he was
frozen
out at international level for 16 months not that long ago.
He won his 60th cap in November 2022 against
It looked then like Brady — a 31-year-old who had some serious injuries during his career — was being retired from international football, but he never saw it that way.
He said: 'There are doubts around that time when you are not getting a call-up.
'I wasn't fit at the time but I knew if I could get myself fit and looked after my body and I got back playing, the rest was down to me to perform.
'I managed to do that and I never lost belief that I could get myself back. It was down to a fitness thing.
'I don't think you just forget how to play football. If I'm fit I can perform and I've managed to do that since I've come back in.
'It is just about working hard and getting back to what I can do myself. I've loved every minute of being back in here, under a spotlight.
'I missed out on some time and I'll be looking to get that back if I can. It's down to how I look after myself and where the next couple of seasons take me.
'I'm fit at the minute. I'm feeling good and I feel like I'm playing some good football. I'll focus on the now and see where it takes me.'
'I'll be looking at this as probably the last, there are no secrets about it.'
Right now, that means forgoing summer
holidays
with an eye on a big summer next year at the
He was a key man the last time Ireland came close when they were walloped in a play-off by
But the memories of Ireland's last finals appearance at Euro 2016 — when the
Brady continued: 'You want to be involved in every tournament.
'We haven't managed that over the last couple but this one coming around, we'll all be fully focused.
'We know what it means to everybody. We know what a lift it will give to the country, to go and qualify for a World Cup.
'And personally it would be absolutely incredible to go and play in a World Cup.
'It will be full
steam
ahead now come September, get ourselves in the best shape we can and be prepared and ready to go.
'There's no lying about it, I'm not getting any younger.
'But, the team we have now, it's a physical, young team and it suited me to come in and sort of play the role I've played.
'It's been great for me. We'll be looking forward to this tournament, we'll be looking to start well and hopefully qualify.
'I'll be looking at this as probably the last, there are no secrets about it.'
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