Evergreen coach Giovanni Trapattoni said he is looking forward to fresh challenges after failing to lead the Republic of Ireland to the World Cup in Brazil next year.

Trapattoni, speaking to Radio Anch'Io Sport on Monday, recently ended his spell as coach of the Irish after they could only finish fourth in Group C qualifying behind Germany, Sweden and Austria.

"We parted amicably after four years together," said Trapattoni, who admitted nonetheless that his task was not helped by two key obstacles.

"Half of the players do not play in the English top flight and often the players were not first team regulars."

Trapattoni, 74, is one of the oldest active coaches at either club or international level.

But that has not dampened his desire to take up one of the offers he said have come from as far afield as the United States or Japan.

Having notably coached Serie A teams AC Milan, Juventus, Fiorentina and Inter, as well as Bayern Munich and the Italian national side, Trapattoni has become one of the most celebrated managers in football history.

He is one of four coaches, alongside Ernst Happel, Jose Mourinho, and Tomislav Ivic to have won league titles in four different countries and one of only two coaches, with Udo Lattek, to have won all three European club titles.

Despite the advancing years, Trapattoni said he has no plans to retire as yet.

"I have to be careful where I choose next," he said.

"I've received flattering requests from far off places like America and Japan. I have meetings lined up in the near future and we'll see whether I decide to go east or west."

He added: "I still have the enthusiasm for this job because mentally, I feel fresh. I'm not ready to take a back office position just yet."