Republic of Ireland coach Giovanni Trapattoni is delighted for Paolo di Canio over his Sunderland move.

Di Canio played for Trapattoni at Juventus.

Trapattoni said: "Paolo was a fantastic, creative player and as a player he was a little bit strange as I discovered when I was his manager.

"He can be a good manager now because he will have learned how to deal with players. When he went to England to play it gave him more experience.

"I know he was in Rome a long time ago, it is the capital and it is a different place for him and he is very proud to come from there.

"But England was also a different place for him and a new experience in his life and he matured there and he grew. It was a different situation for him and he changed there for sure.

"I wish him well and wish to give him my congratulations that he has become a manager.

"He was abrasive and confrontational as a player and I saw that but that is his character. He can be a good manager, I am sure."