Today Tardelli is a coach of the Irish team and with manager Giovanni Trapattoni the Irish team go to Bari in six weeks time with a distinct Italian flavour. The former Italian star make no bones about it he wants an Irish win against his old team.
He told the Irish Daily Star
"It will be very emotional for me and Giovanni to go back to Italy with an Irish team and to face our own national team.
"But for me that's normal because I am a professional coach and nothing will deflect us from our objective of trying to win the game.
"It will be a special occasion for us but we won't be singing the Italian national anthem that night!
"We want to beat Italy even though it's our home country because it's our work now and it's our job with the FAI. Giovanni will feel exactly the same."