EVEN a 10 year fairytale of achieving against the odds, hadn't prepared Jack Charlton for the day the final accolade arrived.

On Saturday afternoon, with his wife, Pat, he went to Aras an Uachtarain to be presented by President Robinson with honorary Irish citizenship - only the seventh and eighth persons to be so decorated.

From there they went to Iveagh House for a reception hosted by the Tanaiste, Dick Spring, at which they were presented with their Irish passports.

"This is one of the best days of my life, maybe, even the best," he said. "I am conscious of the honour which has been conferred on Pat and myself and we both feel privileged and proud."

The man who had so often stood stony faced while the nation watched and worried, was at last, laying bare his inner feelings.

When they showed a video of those well documented moments when his team stood football logic on its head, the sense of nostalgia was all pervading.

"Every country needs inspiration and leadership, heroes and heroines and you, in your time, provided it," the President said.