February 17, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Steve Staunton rolled into town on Monday to be presented as the new hand on the tiller of the Irish soccer and was awarded a warm reception. Mindful of the fact that many doubts persist about his appointment, he went on the offensive straight off the bat. This is his team now and the touchstones will be pride and passion.
“We are here to achieve success,” he said. “Our aim is to qualify for the European Championships and World Cups. First and foremost that is our aim, we want to blood new talent and we have got new talent coming through.
“We have to get the team up and running again, get the fans behind us and to give hope to the fans and show them we are heading in the right direction.”
Alongside him sat Alan Kelly, his goalkeeping coach, and Kevin MacDonald, his assistant coach. And, of course, also in attendance was Bobby Robson who has been given the job of International Football Consultant. Exactly what that title means or quite what specific role Robson is to play was made no more clear on Monday. What was stressed, however, is that Staunton sees his own authority as total.
“I’m the boss,” the 37-year-old Dundalk man said. “I’m the gaffer. At the end of the day what I say goes, the buck stops with me. I will use Bobby in whatever role I see fit. He has a huge role to play, he’s there for me all the time. I’ve got a very good coach alongside me (MacDonald) and I will put my trust and faith in him and that is why I got this team together. I know in my heart we can do it and work together.
“You can’t look any further than Bobby in terms of knowledge or experience. He’s done everything in the game. He’s played at the highest level, coached at the highest level and managed at the highest level. If I can’t learn something from this man, then I’m not the right man.
“His experience is going to be vital for me as regards the media — this is my first job outside of playing. And he’s got more enthusiasm than some of the 18-year-olds I’ve trained with recently.”
For his part, Robson was in typically effusive form when it came to his turn with the microphone. “We must not look back, we must look forward,” he said.
“And I’m going to give Stan everything I’ve got to help him succeed. There’s nothing we won’t do to try to bring success in Irish football.”
The new manager also gave assurances (in a neat piece of diplomacy) that the domestic league wouldn’t be forgotten about just because he’ll be living in England.
“I want someone within the Eircom League scouting for me, keeping an eye on things. They will be looking at individuals and I will be coming over to see games under the recommendation of a trustworthy source over here.
“I am looking at the next four years. It will be tough going for the Europeans but we’ll give it our best shot.”
In the end, even Steve Staunton’s reliably hangdog demeanor couldn’t hide how excited he was by the whole thing.
“This is the opportunity of a lifetime. To play for and captain your country is an honor and I was fortunate to do both — but to manage them is the ultimate honor.
“I am fully aware of the responsibility placed on my shoulders by the footballing community and I understand the expectations that go with that. I know how much football means to the people of this country, we have the greatest fans in the world bar none — I have witnessed it. I was so lucky to have soldiered with them over the years.
“Everyone associated knows the experience of the Giants Stadium against Italy. They are not just memories, they are huge moments in people’s lives, mine included. We have the same aims — we want success and more of those Giants Stadium experiences. We may be a small country but we have had our experiences, we’ve been to three World Cups and have achieved a lot through hard graft and a bit of luck.”