Staunton - aiming to go out on a high

By John Curtis, PA Sport

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The man with the nickname of 'Mr Grumpy' is gearing up for what will probably be his swansong on the World Cup stage.

Steve Staunton was a 21-year-old when he was part of the Republic of Ireland side which reached the quarter-finals under Jack Charlton at Italia 90.

Now 12 years later the Aston Villa defender is his country's most capped player and a near certainty to be a key part of Mick McCarthy's plans for the 2002 finals in Japan and South Korea.

And there is every likelihood Staunton could make his 100th appearance for Ireland during those finals.

He has come many a mile in his distinguished career since he left Drogheda as a 17-year-old when his potential was spotted by Liverpool and won his first cap against Tunisia in 1989 - before he had played for the Reds.

Staunton is one of the game's winners and he openly admits he feels some of today's multi-millionaires do not appear to share the same commitment.

The 'Mr Grumpy' tag was given to him by his former Aston Villa manager John Gregory and his on-the-field spats with 'Mr Angry' in the form of Peter Schmeichel have taken on almost legendary status.

It is that passion, desire and will to want to succeed - "I only shout on the pitch because I care" - which has driven Staunton on throughout his career.

He came back to Villa from Liverpool for a second spell at the end of 2000 and looked to be down the pecking order behind the likes of Olof Mellberg, Gareth Southgate, Alpay and Gareth Barry.

But the departure of Southgate to Middlesbrough, an injury to Mellberg and the fall from grace of Barry gave Staunton his chance and he has not looked back.

Staunton has already set his sights on earning a new contract with Villa and aims to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Stuart Pearce and Gary McAllister in becoming one of football's golden oldies.

But fast looming on the horizon is a third appearance on the biggest stage of all for Staunton after the Irish upset the odds to qualify from a group containing Portugal and Holland via a two-legged play-off with Iran.

Staunton said: "You can never take anything for granted but I'm hopeful I'll be on the plane. I know I don't need to prove anything to anyone.

"But I am grateful for the faith Mick McCarthy had shown in me by picking me even when I wasn't getting games for Villa and he knew he could rely on me to keep up my fitness and to be ready whenever I was needed.

"It was a tremendous experience to be involved in the 1990 and 1994 finals and now I'm looking forward to this one especially with it being in Korea and Japan, places to which I've never been.

"If in the process I manage to get to 100 caps for my country, then it will be brilliant."

Staunton admitted: "For Ireland, just qualifying for these finals is like winning the World Cup.

"When you were in a group like we had against Portugal, who are in the top four in the world, and Holland - in the top 10 - to win seven and draw three and be unbeaten and not qualify automatically was a bit harsh.

"We'd also lost our two previous play-off ties against Turkey and Belgium but it's fantastic that we will be there and everything will be a bonus from now on."

Staunton believes the spirit in the Irish camp is similar to the Jack Charlton era - although the style of football is different.

He said: "Mick still lets us have our nights out, our golf days etc, the things we used to do under Jack. The spirit in the camp is very good.

"There is some difference in the way we play. Mick encourages us to play the ball out from the back more, something I don't think Jack have appreciated.

"But it is wrong to think that Jack just wanted us to hump the ball forward. What he did want was the ball in their half quicker and down the channels."

As for his 'Mr Grumpy' tag, Staunton said: "I wear my heart on my sleeve. I always have done. In the case of myself and Peter Schmeichel, we bounced off each other - it kept me on my toes and I hope I kept him on his.

"As long as we are winning, everything else is irrelevant. Football is as much a passion as a profession for me.

"Me as an individual, I don't look any further than how I want to play. Most footballers I would like to think are like that, but in today's climate I don't think so.

"They are not as committed, shall we say. I am not saying that about everyone but some people are happy to take a back seat, take the money and just go along with things.

"We are all well paid and all that, but for me you have got to be playing or want to play, busting a gut on the training ground to try and force the manager to try to change his options.

"That's why I left Liverpool. I could have carried on there and been quite comfortable. But why should I? You have got to make the most of every game."

It is that love and passion Staunton has for the game that may yet help the Irish to enjoy another World Cup party this summer.