Republic of Ireland great Ray Treacy passes on
Saturday, April 11, 2015
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"He was a legend of Irish football," said Football Association of Ireland chief executive John Delaney as the nation mourned the passing for former international forward Ray Treacy.
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The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has paid tribute to Irish "legend" Ray Treacy after the former Republic of Ireland forward passed away.
Treacy, who scored five times in 42 appearances for the Republic (1966–79), died in his native Dublin at the age of 68. He was well known on the international scene from his feats with Ireland's senior side and he also achieved domestic success with Shamrock Rovers FC, winning the 1978 Irish Cup as a player and then managing the Dublin club to the 1994 Premier Division title. He maintained his connection with the national team when his coaching career ended, with Treacy the official travel agent to the FAI.
"We are all deeply saddened at the passing of Ray Treacy," said FAI chief executive John Delaney. "He was a legend of Irish football and made a unique contribution to his country, to schoolboy football and to the League of Ireland. As the FAI's official travel agent he helped thousands of Irish supporters follow the team all over the globe, particularly to the World Cups in 1990, 1994 and 2002."
Treacy was on the books of West Bromwich Albion FC when he made his Republic debut against West Germany in May 1966. He later played for Charlton Athletic FC, Swindon Town FC and Preston North End FC before returning to West Brom under manager John Giles in 1976.
In 1977 new Shamrock Rovers boss Giles – who was also Ireland's manager – brought Treacy back to Dublin to play for the Hoops, and the inside-forward scored the winning goal in the 1978 FAI Cup final. He was capped for the last time, under Giles, against Czechoslovakia in 1979.
After coaching spells with Home Farm FC and Drogheda United FC, Treacy took over at Shamrock Rovers in in 1992 and led them to a league championship in 1994. Once he left Rovers in 1996 he concentrated on his travel business until retirement in 2009.
"All at Shamrock Rovers are deeply saddened at the news of Ray Treacy's passing late last night after a brief illness," Shamrock Rovers said in a statement. "Ray will be remembered with great fondness and respect for what he achieved in football for his club and country."
