"The nation holds its breath" - the famous words of RTÉ commentator George Hamilton as David O'Leary lined up to convert Ireland's winning penalty against Romania in the last 16 of Italia '90.
Arguably the greatest moment in the history of Irish soccer, it's now 25 years since that spot-kick and to mark the anniversary, the Dubliner will be honoured at the Irish Sports Awards which take place in Dublin this Saturday.
"I can't believe it myself," O'Leary told Newstalk's Breakfast today when Ivan started by telling him that he couldn’t believe it was so long since that famous day. "When this invitation came, I had to look again and see ... where has it gone?"
"I'm so grateful I scored it because I'd dread to think what they'd say to me if I'd missed!"
Ireland prepare for the famous penalty shootout against Romania at Italia '90 ©INPHO Billy Stickland
As well representing the Republic on 68 occasions, O'Leary won the title with Arsenal twice as well as the FA and League Cup. He also managed Leeds United to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.
However, as he acknowledged, Italia '90 is always at the forefront of Irish people's thoughts when they meet the Gunners great.
"If that's what people in Ireland remember me for, that's fine by me," he added. "Twenty-five years on, I'm still dining out on it in many ways."
While Genoa represented a dream high-point in O'Leary's Irish career, it was preceeded by a nightmare few years when the 56-year-old was frozen out by then-Ireland manager Jack Charlton.
"I think Jack let himself down in that period," said O'Leary. "During that two- or three-year period where I missed 40 caps for Ireland, I probably had my most successful spell for Arsenal.
"I don't hold anything against Jack - I like the man - I just thought he let himself down. The more he heard about how well I was playing for Arsenal at the time, just made Jack more stubborn not to pick me."
David O'Leary back on the bench for the quarter-final against Italy ©INPHO Billy Stickland
He added: "Jack was a certain type of centre-half, I wasn't that way. I was a different type of centre-half completely."
O'Leary also discussed his playing career with Arsenal and time as a boss of Leeds United, and says he's open to a return to management should the right job come up.
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