The Louth Mount Rushmore was picked on OTB AM this morning, and although there were some disagreements, Steve Staunton's place was never in question.
The former Republic of Ireland player and manager was the number one pick for both our own Ronan Mullen and Dan McDonnell of the Irish Independent, and with good reason.
And although his ill-fated stint as manager of the senior international team left a bad taste, Dan says he hopes Staunton's legacy will centre around his extraordinary playing career, saying his time as manager hasn't fully killed his image.
"Not in Louth. I was at an event in Dundalk recently where he spoke, and there would have been a comment from the floor along the lines of 'Remember what a great man this is', or words to that effect.
On the day Steve Staunton turns 51 years old, we take a moment to remember a couple of the strongest looks to ever grace a football pitch at USA ‘94. pic.twitter.com/NqOhYVmOyL
— MUNDIAL (@MundialMag) January 19, 2020
"There was a big round of applause... I would have found as someone from Louth who covered Steve Staunton's time [as Republic of Ireland manager] and would have been quite critical of him, and would have taken a bit of local grief...
"...There's a sensitivity of protection of one of their own. I think in the wider sporting discussion there's no doubt that when you mention his name now to anyone under 30 say, they might think of him the manager before they think of the player.
"Even things like the accent, his way of speaking, all these things that were parodied, were part of the lampooning of him. But that was him. He kept his accept, kept his identity, he's still very much a local in the eyes of anyone, even though he hasn't lived in Dundalk for years.
"You mention his name now and there's always a wisecrack around the corner. But I've always hoped... that with the passing of time we go less to the managerial thing and just reflect on his [playing] achievements.
"Three World Cups, first player to be a centurion for Ireland, also played for that Liverpool team when Liverpool were the kings. You can go into the rest of his Premier League career and [look at] the longevity.
"Hopefully his legacy is that."
Ronan added that his early achievements in soccer, and roots in local GAA in Louth, cement his place as one of the Wee County's all-time greats.
"I would wager that by the age of 21 he had a CV on a par with anything we've seen in Irish sport.
"Before we even get to what he did in England... he was a prodigious GAA star. He played under-10s when he was six years old... [made his] senior debut for Clan na Gael when he was 16 in 1985.
"Not only had the Clan's not won a Louth senior championship title in 26 years, they hadn't won a championship game in six years! Staunton's first year on the panel they play Roche Emmets - neighbours, derby match, they straight up don't like each other.
14 November 2001; Republic of Ireland captain Steve Staunton and manager Mick McCarthy celebrate qualification for the World Cup Finals. Iran v Republic of Ireland, World Cup Play off 2nd leg, Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran. Soccer. Picture credit; Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE *EDI*"And who scores the winning goal in that final? Young Steve Staunton.
"A year later he's gone to Liverpool, the pre-eminent club side in the world at that time with Kenny Dalglish. He's only in the door a year - 1989 FA Cup winners, 1990 League winners, that summer he goes on Ireland's maiden World Cup voyage.
"He starts every game, and that's it, legacy secured. But he just went on and on. He played in two more World Cups, 13 World Cup appearances [in all], captained them in 2002, two domestic trophies with Aston Villa, 455 top-flight appearances all told, Ireland's first-ever centurion."
Not a bad showing at all from our Stan.
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