Latest news with #DanieleMassaro
The Irish Sun
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘Weighs us down' – Ireland legend pinpoints Aviva Stadium flaw compared to Jack Charlton glory days at old Lansdowne
GARY KELLY met ex-Italy and AC Milan star Daniele Massaro at the Aviva Stadium yesterday and was instantly transported back to USA '94. The ex-Ireland defender was part of Jack Charlton's squad to travel to the World Cup. And the Drogheda man smiled: 'When I came in first, I said, 'Is that Daniele?' I actually have his jersey from f***ing Giants' Stadium. Unreal!' Asked if Massaro has his No 12 shirt from 31 years ago, the former full-back added: 'He said he does but couldn't make out my name on the back. Do the maths!' The pair were at the Aviva Stadium to announce ticket details for And while Leeds legend Kelly, who remains a season-ticket holder at Elland Road, is looking forward to seeing his old club at the Dublin 4 ground, he admitted he still misses the feeling he got from the old Lansdowne Road. Read more in Irish football Kelly, who made his Ireland debut under Charlton ahead of that 1994 World Cup, added: 'Lansdowne Road, cold showers . . . we'd teams beaten already under Jack. Teams — the dressing rooms were cold, cement, cold water, everything was horrible, showers, flickering lights — come here now and it's nearly too nice. 'Away teams come here and go, 'Why wouldn't you want to play football in this? Let's go beat them'. 'That's another little stone around their neck to weigh Ireland down because it's beautiful, it's an absolutely immaculate stadium, isn't it?' Most read in Football Whatever about their home ground, if Ireland are to make it through this year's World Cup qualifiers and get back to America to relive memories of USA '94, Kelly reckons the team will need to be horrible. The 50-year-old continued: 'I would rather play s**t and win than play pretty and lose. Just get that winning mentality back. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict You win your home games, pick up a few points on the road, I know it's easy saying it but under Jack we've done it, under Mick McCarthy we've done it. 'We have good players. If we can get out of that group — you have to be coming second. You have to aim for the play-offs. "If we don't, it's just rip up the paper and start again. How many times can we do that? 'It's just about making Ireland tough to play against again. The pretty football doesn't suit us. 1 Gary Kelly (centre) joined by World Cup oppenent Daniele Massaro (right) and fellow Leeds legend Tony Dorigo (left) at the Aviva stadium "Here it's about letting them know it's Ireland and you are not getting away with it. At home you have to beat the teams.' Kelly also stressed the key to success for Heimir Hallgrimsson's side will not be individuals but having a togetherness. He added: 'The bite can only come back in the player if the player wants to believe in it. "The new manager has his style, I think his main thing is he wants you to fight for the jersey, close down, keep the ball. 'If our manager can get the players to believe in what he's doing and get the confidence going . . . 'When we were injured under Jack, we'd still ask could we come in because we knew there'd be a lads' night out! That's important too. "Don't put them in their rooms for three or four days, have a game of golf or a beer and get to know one another. "Get them as a whole, tight-knit, get everything going the way you want it and that will transfer on to the pitch. 'We had Saturday night out, Sunday we'd all be down in Gibney's, do a bit of training Monday and you go out and could beat Holland here! AVIVA FORTRESS 'It was just a fortress here. I know the Aviva is pretty but you have to make it horrible to come to. "Irish fans are brilliant wherever they go. Make it hostile. Make the place a fortress.' If Ireland are at the World Cup next year, which is being hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, Kelly — who won 52 caps and featured at two World Cups — will be there. He added: 'This is a great opportunity to get to the World Cup. It would be amazing for the Irish people — and they will travel. 'I don't follow Ireland around, I watch them on TV, but if they qualify for somewhere like that, you are going, everyone is going for a bit of craic and a p***-up.' GARY KELLY was speaking to announce details of Leeds United's friendly with AC Milan at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday, August 9. Tickets go on general sale today at 10am.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
AC MILAN HEADS TO IRELAND TO FACE LEEDS UNITED IN SUMMER FIXTURE
AC Milan is pleased to announce a summer friendly against Leeds United, newly promoted to the Premier League. The match will take place on Saturday, 9 August at 3:00 PM (local time) at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin - a world-class venue with over 50,000 seats located in the heart of the Irish capital. This fixture is part of the men's First Team's pre-season schedule, following the conclusion of the Pre-Season Tour 2025, which will see the team travel across the Asia-Pacific region (Singapore, Hong Kong and Western Australia) from 20 July to 1 August. Advertisement The match was officially unveiled today at a media event at the Aviva Stadium, attended by AC Milan Brand Ambassador Daniele Massaro and Leeds United legend Gary Kelly, former Republic of Ireland full-back. This fixture marks AC Milan's first match in Ireland in five years. The Rossoneri last played in the country during the 2020/21 season, facing Shamrock Rovers in a UEFA Europa League qualifier. AC Milan and Leeds United have met three times in the past, including in the 2000/01 UEFA Champions League group stage, and most memorably in the 1973 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup final in Thessaloniki. Tickets for the match will be available in pre-sale starting today, Tuesday 27 May, via Ticketmaster pre-sale link, with general sale opening on Thursday, 29 May at 10:00am through Ticketmaster.
