The day Irish footballers from north and south united to take on Brazil
11-May-2021 12:32:08 | Guardian
The partition 100 years ago eventually led to two Irish teams, but that divide was put aside for a day when Brazil visited
By Richard Foster for The Football Mine
As far as international friendlies are concerned, there is nothing more prestigious than playing against the most glamorous and successful team in world football, Brazil. On 3 July 1973 a packed Lansdowne Road had the pleasure of watching the reigning World Cup holders take on an Irish side. But this was an Irish side with a difference: for the first time since the 1950s, the team was made up of players from both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The concept of a unified Irish team was the brainchild of Louis Kilcoyne, who had recently taken ownership of the Dublin-based club Shamrock Rovers. Kilcoyne had travelled to Brazil in 1972 to watch the Republic in a friendly tournament. Once he heard about Brazil’s intentions to tour Europe the following year as part of their preparation for the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, he was determined to get Ireland on to an itinerary that already included games against Germany, Austria, Sweden, Italy and Scotland.
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