Issue 5 Saturday 2nd September 2006

Germany v. Ireland

YBIG: Best memory?
ALDO: I don’t know I’ve had so many unbelievable memories. I think playing in the quarter finals of the World Cup even though we got beat, the fact that we got there and walking out, that night was unbelievable. Another memory I’ve got to mention, cause people mention the Italy game, for me now the big one was beating England one-nil. That was us telling people we were there, stamping our mark on the European game. Beating our closest neighbours and rivals was a tremendous feeling.

YBIG: Worst Memory?
ALDO: Drawing against Leichtenstein, the nil all game.

YBIG: When singing the Fields of Athenry on You’re A Star, were you close to signing the lyrics of the Fields of Anfield Road (The Liverpool version) instead?
ALDO: No, not at all. I did do it at one of the rehearsals before hand just for the craic with the band and they thought it was brilliant. No chance of getting it wrong though, 100 per cent concentration on that.

YBIG: Ever find out who got your boots when you threw them into the Kop?
ALDO: I’ve had various people come up to me but they are probably on e bay now.

YBIG: What do you think of the opening up of Croke Park  and the idea some fans have of campaigning for a Designated Singing Area?
ALDO: That’s not a bad idea. I think that we have always been different with the singing, like at Lansdowne Road when it started the rest would join in and the whole ground would be singing. It’s not a bad idea having said that cause you do need someone to start the signing. I think it would be a brilliant idea. I went to Croke Park for the first time to watch the Kerry v Cork game and I tell you what, so so impressed. Absolutely first class. I’ve watched the games many times on the tele but I’ve never been to a live one and over the years I’ve  always said I must go and I really enjoyed it.

YBIG: Was there a few pints had after the game against England in ’88?
ALDO: We were playing Russia on the Tuesday so Jack gave us a curfew until 12 midnight which was very kind of him but we did sneak an hour afterwards, he let it go on till One o’clock. The Dubliners were in there and a couple of other bands so we had a fantastic sing-along. It was a great night, it really was.

YBIG: The best strike partner you ever played with?
ALDO: This will surprise many people, he was Irish, he was Northern Irish — Billy Hamilton at Oxford. I formed such a relationship with him, it was like the Keegan/Toshack formation. He took the weight off me brilliantly. He was the target man and I played off him. Having said that I have obviously had some tremendous partnerships — Rushie and obviously with Quinnie, we formed a decent relationship.

YBIG: Where is Hamilton now?
ALDO: Billy got a business in Bangor in the north. He is in the trophy business.

YBIG: What exactly did you say to the fourth official against Mexico?
ALDO: I just lost my head. Everyone knows I lost the plot. I was so desperate to get on the pitch. We were down to 10 men and they wouldn’t let me on the pitch. For three or four minutes it seemed an eternity cause I wanted to be on the pitch. I hadn’t played that much before that and I was desperate to come on. Words came out that I didn’t even know I had in my vocabulary.

YBIG: Who would you go for a pint with, the fourth official or Fernando Couto?
ALDO: I would like to go with Fernando Couto and ask him why did he become such a spitter. That’s the reason I did that to him cause he kept spitting at me. And he is a decent player, you know, what made him spit at me for the first 25 minutes?

YBIG: Who in the whole world would you like to be stuck in a lift with?
ALDO: O dear me, I’ll have to come back to that one.

YBIG: Biggest influence?
ALDO: My Dad. When I was young, he followed me everywhere, you know when I was in school he would always turn up and watch me and back me up so he was the biggest influence definitely.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

YBIG: If you hadn’t been a footballer?
ALDO: I was a tool maker by trade. I still may have been a tool maker although I like to think I may have been a decent chef.

YBIG: What are Liverpool’s chances this year?
ALDO: Slightly better than last year. I still think there is going to be a good bit to do, maybe next year. Liverpool have to do is hope that Chelsea will be beaten by more teams than they have been. And we have to take four points off them minimum. We can’t afford to get beat by them

YBIG: Favourite food?
ALDO: Curry.

YBIG: Favourite band?
ALDO: The people who were along side me in You’re A Star.

YBIG: All time favourite
player?
ALDO: Pele.

YBIG: Toughest defender you have played against?
ALDO: Paul McGrath. Definitely.

YBIG: Biggest oul one you have played against?
ALDO: The whole Latvian defence.

YBIG: Who had the worst dress sense during your Ireland days?
ALDO: Sheeds.

YBIG: Biggest joker?
ALDO: Andy Townsend. I remember we played a gag on Kevin Sheedy one night. We said we were going to sneak out before the 1990
World Cup game against England, two days before, we said we had someone to take us out the back door. Sheeds said aw give us 10 minutes. We gave it 10 minutes and then quietly knocked on the door and when he opened it he was all fully clothed and we had two big buckets of water and we walloped him with it. He was bothered about the water it was the fact that we weren’t going out!

YBIG: Have you any plans to shave your tache?
ALDO: I can’t no, it’s part of me now. I shaved it down to a number one but no I can’t do that. It’s too prominent now. I’d look funny without it.

YBIG: Longest in the shower?
ALDO: Dave O’Leary

YBIG: If you could invite four sports people for dinner, who would they be?
ALDO: Ian Botham, Jose Mourinho, I would like to see what he is really like, give him the benefit of the doubt, you know what I mean. Tiger Woods. ...Jack Charlton.

YBIG: Favourite goal for
Ireland?
ALDO: Mexico. I thought at the time it was just a consolation goal but then I find out it actually got us through to the next round. It was a massive goal and it was on the big stage.

YBIG: What do you think of Keane joining Sunderland?
ALDO: It’s a great opportunity for him to cut his teeth in management with a massive club. It (the rift with Keane and Quinn) must have been resolved a long time ago. They’ve come across each other and shook hands or whatever which is nice to see cause they are two good people.

YBIG: How is Aldo’s Place going?
ALDO: We get loads of Irish over, probably more Irish than English in there at times and it’s great craic. It’s only open two and a half years and all the Irish of course are more than welcome.

YBIG: Thought of anyone for the lift question yet?
ALDO: The fourth official!

YBIG: How will Staunton doas manager?
ALDO: I certainly hope he can do well but he needs help. Bobby Robson is not quite right at the moment and he does need guidance
 little bit because of inexperience it would be tough on his own.

YBIG: Are there any plans to go back kinto management again?
ALDO: I don’t know, you never say never. I got offered the Tranmere job about six/seven weeks ago and after long consideration I turned it down. There was a doubt in my mind and when there is a doubt in your mind you gotta say no.