Mick McCarthy was praised by viewers after an emotional interview on Friday night's Late Late Show on RTE.
The former Republic of Ireland manager spoke to Ryan Tubridy about the death of his mother, who passed away from cancer he was just 24, on Daffodil Day.
He told Tubridy: "I was 24 [when she passed], and it took me a long time to realise how young she was and now I’m 63 — I’m 10 years passed that.
"I went to see her on the Saturday morning. We were playing Middlesborough, and unbeknown to me she was dying. It was that morning that I realised she was [dying]."
McCarthy said he only realised how much his mother's death had affected him years later.
He added: "The first time I spoke about it was at a lunch for the cancer charity.
"I stood up to speak, and it was because there was people in that audience that have recovered from cancer… and I choked up. I only realised how much it had affected me all those years on."
Viewers took to social media to praise McCarthy for speaking on his mother's death as they saw another side of the 63-year-old.
One said: "Mick McCarthy is a legend."
Another commented: "Wow! Never thought I'd relate to Mick McCarthy but I do. Mum died of cancer on 24th Jan 1995 aged 42 when I was just 11 & to the day I die, I'll never forget that day."
Someone else posted: "Eye opening Interview by Mick McCarthy on losing his Mother to breast cancer. Regardless what people think of him he's a good human being gave it his as a player brilliant servant with Ireland as a player and manager."
One other person tweeted: "I always had time for Mick McCarthy and he is an interesting person who is proud of his heritage. A decent person, with a softer side!!!"
"Mick McCarthy is one of the best," read another post.
If you would like to donate for Daffodil Day, you can do so here.
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