Charlie O'Leary's announcement yesterday that he is retiring as kit manager of the Republic of Ireland squad is another notable break with the Jack Charlton era.
O'Leary (73) was no ordinary member of the technical staff. As Charlton himself once remarked - "People like Charlie O'Leary and Mick Byrne were the essence of the spirit we set out to engender in the squad." That compliment was easily returned by the little man who was instantly recognisable to sports people around the country. "Jack Charlton made me feel as important to him as the most important player in his team," he said. "And I believe that was why he was so successful in getting people to work so hard for him."
O'Leary, from the East Wall area of Dublin, gave a lifetime of service to football, first as a player and later as a referee and administrator. He was a League of Ireland referee for more than 20 years and shortly before his retirement took charge of the 1972 FAI Cup final in which Miah Dennehy's hat-trick gave Cork Hibernians a comprehensive win over Waterford.
Later, he acted for a while as secretary of Shelbourne FC and he is currently president of the
Leinster Football League. Apart from his primary duties of organising the players' kit, he had a great influence in the dressingroom where his ready wit was nearly always in evidence.
He was at the heart of many of the great occasions in Irish football including the 1988 European Championship finals and the World Cup finals of 1990 and 1994. "I've enjoyed ever minute of my time with Ireland teams but all good things must come to an end," he said.
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