By:
Conor Martin
Ireland international Robbie Brady has reflected on winning the FAI Senior Men’s Player of the Year for the second time. He had previously won the FAI award after a successful 2016 for the national side.
Brady has been a fantastic servant for his nation, and his reintroduction into the Ireland team by Heimir Hallgrimsson has already been repaid by Brady with some solid performances. He also scored an 88th-minute winner against Finland last October as Ireland won 2-1.
After winning the award, Brady said this time around, it means more to him.
FAI award ‘means a lot’ to Robbie Brady
“In 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.”
Brady has only played in one major competition with his nation. That was in Euro 2016, a tournament where Ireland reached the Round of 16 before going out against hosts France.
Brady scored a penalty in the game that saw Ireland’s European adventure end. But it was his late winner in the group stages against Italy that will forever live in the memories of the Irish fans and public.
World Cup ambitions
After winning the FAI Senior Men’s Player of the Year award on Wednesday, Brady is focused on the future.
With one eye on next year’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, the Dubliner expressed his desire to play on the world’s biggest stage. He added he never gave up hope of playing for his country again. But he recognised this qualifying campaign might be the last chance he has of featuring at a World Cup.
“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 and we know what a lift it will be 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, and get ourselves in the best shape we can and be prepared and ready to go.”
Brady never lost belief
“Obviously, 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 get back playing, the rest was down to me to perform.
“I don’t think you just forget how to play football. And I never lost belief that I could get myself back.
“I’m not getting any younger, but we’re looking forward to this tournament. We’ll be looking to start well and hopefully qualify.
“But yeah, I’ll be looking at this as probably the last, there are no secrets about it.”
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