ROBBIE BRADY LAST night expressed his delight after he was rewarded for his part in a phenomenal 2016 for the Irish team.
Brady picked up three accolades at last night’s FAI awards — Young Player of the Year, Senior Player of the Year and Goal of the Year, for his match-winning header in the pivotal Euro 2016 group game against Italy.
Speaking after picking up the award, the Burnley star paid tribute to his teammates’ role in this triple success.
There’s a massive group of players that have helped me win the awards I won tonight,” he said. “I feel very lucky and very honoured that I had a group of lads around me to help me shine in the last year. I’ve enjoyed it and it’s been an incredible year for Irish football. Just to be a part of it is excellent.
“For me to get my hands on (the senior) award — no one can take it away from me now that I have it. It was a very important one for me.”
The famous Italy goal in particular is one that has been repeated endlessly on TV and elsewhere in the months since the Euros, but for Brady, the memories remain as sweet as ever, not matter how many times it’s shown.
I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of it. It’s hard to watch because the emotions that went with it in that tournament was something I’ve never experienced.
“I was speaking to Wes (Hoolahan) a few months ago and he was saying we just need a night where we’ll see the game’s on and watch the game again just to get a real feel for it, because I haven’t watched the full game back yet, just the highlights.
I’ve been looking forward to sitting down and enjoying those games and I’m just glad it’s in stone now and we can look back at it whenever we want.
“I have loads of different pictures of the goal, paintings and all sorts. My gaff isn’t plastered with memorabilia of myself, but in my mam’s house and my gran’s house they all have a little piece of the tournament.
The fans and things pop up on the internet and people send them on and text message on or sometimes send letters to the club with pictures in it.”
Brady has been integral to Ireland’s recent success, both at the Euros and in the current World Cup qualifying campaign, with the Boys in Green currently top of Group D with four games played.
However, the 25-year-old midfielder will play no part in Friday’s pivotal clash against rivals Wales, having picked up a suspension in the match against Austria back in November.
I’m devastated I’m going to be missing the game. Especially the last few weeks, the build-up is all everyone’s been talking about. Not being involved is hitting home now.
“But I’ll be doing my part to get the lads ready for Friday night and hopefully they put in a good performance and get the result they need.
I’m not a good watcher of games as it is, so with this one, it’ll be hard for me to take, but it’s not about me for Friday’s game. It’s about the lads. I’ll be in training with them and trying to get them ready for a massive game.”
It’s been a big few months for Brady at club level as well. On the last day of January the transfer window, he joined Burnely from Norwich for a club record €15 million.
The Dubliner began life at Turf Moor superbly, scoring a spectacular free kick in last month’s 1-1 draw with Chelsea.
Alongside international teammates Jeff Hendrick and Stephen Ward, Brady has helped the newly promoted club reach their current position of 13th, with the Clarets looking unlikely to be dragged into a relegation battle as they sit on 32 points with nine games to play.
Nevertheless, the 25-year-old has had to be content with a substitute role in the club’s last two Premier League games, and he admits it’s taking him time to adapt to his new surroundings.
It’s just been a little bit different for me to the football I’ve been playing at Norwich. It’s nothing I can’t handle and nothing that’s going to faze me. I’ve started on the bench the last two games but I’ve been doing everything since he left me out the first time to try and learn quick and get myself back in the team… If I keep going the way I’m going I’m more confident I will get myself back in.
“I think the Premier League is a higher intensity the way it is, the way Burnley play is 110% per game. I’m not saying I don’t give 110% but it’s just a different way of playing. I’ll get used to it in time.”
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Pity he couldn’t do same ref Republic
@billy Dorney: think he’s not alone there. Ireland under MON play way too negative to get the best of our limited enough squad with Brady being one of only a few that possess some decent quality.
@billy Dorney: you prob seen loads of goals like that in the Loi Billy? same as Griffiths for celtic.
@Ado Smith: MONs tactics aren’t to blame for constantly not being able to clear the first man from corners/free kicks. I wouldn’t be a MON fan by any stretch if the imagination but Brady has been terrible for country for a long time now
@Kieran: MON would rightfully say he has probably got as much out of this squad as is possible but Brady being poor for a few matches including club (Euros weren’t that long ago where he was excellent!) doesn’t say he’s suddenly a crap player. Not the only one who has being poor for us, McLean being the obvious exception. Just not good enough at the moment but terrible to watch when O’Neill is nearly as distrusting of his players as Trappatoni to play anyway expansive.
@@baz6375: watch the LOI Goal of the Month Competition recently. Screamers every week
@Zossima: I have watched them.havent seen any free kicks as good as Griffiths.its all opinion though I know.
@Ado Smith: McLean has been a real tryer for us.i think only for that goal against Wales we wouldn’t be bigging him up as much though.that goal papers over a lot of cracks as good as it was. I see him back in the championship soon tbh.hes all about effort as opposed to technique.that only gets ya so far,especially in the position he plays as well.
@@baz6375: Your 100% right but with MON system he was essential. All the one now. Don’t think we’ll be at another major championship anytime soon unfortunately
@Ado Smith: ya.agree on both counts. unfortunately.
@Ado Smith: agree
@@baz6375: certainly did, have a look at paddy mccourts wonder goal last season, reminiscent of George Best
@Zossima: well said
@@baz6375: have u been to many LOI games last season? If so where? If not, why not?
@billy Dorney: been to see City few times Billy.league is definitely improved.I can admit that
@Ado Smith: sadly, you’re probably right
Just shows that MON didnt know how to utilise certain players because hendrick and brady are quality for burnley and poor for ireland
He’s in my fantasy team lovely
Can’t see the video, is there an alternative link?
@Jack O’Connell: cheers jack
Brady , Hendrick and Ward can play football for Burnley and Martin O’ Neill only lets them play hoofball for Ireland .
Martin O’ Neill has fallen behind todays football . Give us a manager that wants to play some football at least .
Wonderful things can happen when the manager decides to play the player in the actual position he built his reputation playing in. Think Brady ended up playing about 3 different positions in that Denmark game, as MON’s old mentor famously said ‘football is a simple game made complicated by idiots’. MON’s tactics as Ireland manager are idiotic!!