Eoin Hand (born March 30, 1946 in Dublin, Ireland) was a footballer and football manager. As a player, his normal position was centre-half. He currently works as a TV and radio football commentator for RTÉ in Ireland. is the 89th day of the year (90th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1946 (MCMXLVI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full 1946 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Dublin city centre at night WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Leinster County: Dáil Éireann: Dublin Central, Dublin North Central, Dublin North East, Dublin North West, Dublin South Central, Dublin South East European Parliament: Dublin Dialling Code: +353 1 Postal District(s): D1-24, D6W Area: 114. ... A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ... In sports, a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction and instruction of the on-field operations of an athletic team or of individual athletes. ... Radio Telefís Éireann[1] (RTÉ; IPA: ,  ) is the Public Service Broadcaster of the Republic of Ireland. ...

Playing career

As a 17 year old Hand was signed by Swindon Town but the move did not work out and he quickly returned to Ireland. He started his League of Ireland career with short spells for Dundalk FC and Shelbourne FC but it was with Drumcondra FC that he found most success. Swindon Town F.C. are an English football team. ... The Football League of Ireland, usually known simply as the League of Ireland or the Eircom League (from the leagues sponsorship by Irish telcom Eircom), is a league of football clubs in the Republic of Ireland. ... Dundalk FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Shelbourne FC is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Drumcondra F.C. crest Drumcondra F.C. was an Irish football club from Dublin. ...

After a series of outstanding displays, he was signed by Portsmouth FC for a transfer fee of £8,000 in October 1968. Hand would impress enough at Portsmouth to earn a call up to the Republic of Ireland national football team and went on to earn 19 caps for his country. He stayed with Portsmouth until being released at the end of the 1975/76 season. After a brief spell in South Africa, Hand was persuaded back into football by Shamrock Rovers but after only nine games, returned to Portsmouth FC. He left again in 1979, after playing a total of 277 times in the league for them. Founded in 1898, Portsmouth Football Club are an English association football club based in the south coast city port of Portsmouth. ... First international Irish Free State 1 - 0  Bulgaria (Stade Olympique, Colombes, France; May 28, 1924) Biggest win Republic of Ireland 8 - 0 Malta  (Dalymount Park, Republic of Ireland; 16 November 1983) Biggest defeat  Brazil 7 - 0 Republic of Ireland (Uberlândia, Brazil; 27 May 1982) World Cup Appearances 3 (First... Shamrock Rovers FC is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ...

Managerial career

In 1979 Hand was appointed player-manager of Limerick United. He immediately sparked a revival in Limerick's fortunes and they won the League of Ireland in Hand's first season. They were rewarded with a European Cup tie with Real Madrid and Hand was rewarded with the Irish national team manager's job. For a short time he tried to combine both jobs but with business commitments in Dublin, he left Limerick and concentrated on the Ireland job. Limerick Football Club is an Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Champions League Logo The UEFA Champions League is an annual international inter-club football competition between Europes most successful clubs, regarded as the most prestigious club trophy in the sport. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... First international Irish Free State 1 - 0  Bulgaria (Stade Olympique, Colombes, France; May 28, 1924) Biggest win Republic of Ireland 8 - 0 Malta  (Dalymount Park, Republic of Ireland; 16 November 1983) Biggest defeat  Brazil 7 - 0 Republic of Ireland (Uberlândia, Brazil; 27 May 1982) World Cup Appearances 3 (First... Dublin city centre at night WGS-84 (GPS) Coordinates: , Statistics Province: Leinster County: Dáil Éireann: Dublin Central, Dublin North Central, Dublin North East, Dublin North West, Dublin South Central, Dublin South East European Parliament: Dublin Dialling Code: +353 1 Postal District(s): D1-24, D6W Area: 114. ...

In Hand's first World Cup qualifying campaign, Ireland narrowly lost out to France on goal difference. Ireland conceded a late goal to Belgium after having what most commentators describe as a 'perfectly good goal' disallowed. The image of Hand on the bench with his head in his hands post match is widely shown in Ireland as one of Irish sport's most heartbreaking images. For the club competition, see FIFA Club World Cup. ...

Ireland finished an unremarkable 3rd in the qualifying campaign for Euro 84 and shortly after Hand agained combined club and international management when he was appointed manager of St Patrick's Athletic FC, however he lasted only one season with the Dublin club. After failure to qualify for the 1986 World Cup Hand was sacked by the FAI and replaced by Jack Charlton. The 1984 European Football Championship (Euro 84) final tournament was held in France. ... St Patricks Athletic F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... The Football Association of Ireland (FAI; Irish: Cumann Peile na h-Éireann) is the organising body for the sport of association football (soccer) in the Republic of Ireland. ... John Jack Charlton, OBE, DL (born Ashington, Northumberland, May 8, 1935) was a footballer who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and who won the World Cup with England. ...

In 1988 Hand was appointed manager of Huddersfield Town and remained there until 1992. Hand also briefly managed Shelbourne during the 1993/94 season, but left for personal reasons. Huddersfield Town Football Club is an English football club formed in 1908 and based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. ...