View source for Steve Staunton

{{Short description|Irish footballer}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                = Steve Staunton
| image               = Staunton, Steve.jpg
| image_size          = 
| caption             = Staunton in 2011
| fullname            = Stephen Staunton<ref name="Hugman2006-07">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2006–07 | year = 2006 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-111-4 | page = 387 }}</ref>
| birth_date          = {{Birth date and age|1969|1|19|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman2006-07"/>
| birth_place         = [[Drogheda]], Ireland
| height              = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}<ref name="Hugman2006-07"/>
| position            = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]]
| currentclub         =
| years1 = 1985–1986 | clubs1 = [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]]                        | caps1 =     | goals1 = 
| years2 = 1986–1991 | clubs2 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]                    | caps2 = 65  | goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1987      | clubs3 = → [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (loan) | caps3 = 8   | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 1991–1998 | clubs4 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]                | caps4 = 208 | goals4 = 16
| years5 = 1998–2000 | clubs5 = [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]                    | caps5 = 44  | goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2000      | clubs6 = → [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (loan) | caps6 = 6   | goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2000–2003 | clubs7 = [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]                | caps7 = 73  | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2003–2005 | clubs8 = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]            | caps8 = 70  | goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2005      | clubs9 = [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]                        | caps9 = 7   | goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 481 | totalgoals = 21
| nationalyears1      = 1987–1989
| nationalteam1       = [[Republic of Ireland national under-21 football team|Republic of Ireland U21]]
| nationalcaps1       = 4
| nationalgoals1      = 0
| nationalyears2      = 1988–2002<ref>{{Cite news|title=Stephen Staunton - Century of International Appearances|publisher=The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/staunton-intl.html}}</ref>
| nationalteam2       = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| nationalcaps2       = 102
| nationalgoals2      = 8
| manageryears1       = 2006–2007
| managerclubs1       = [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
| manageryears2       = 2009–2010
| managerclubs2       = [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]
}}
'''Stephen Staunton''' (born 19 January 1969) is an Irish football manager, scout and former professional footballer.

He played as a [[defender (association football)|defender]] with two separate spells each with [[Premier League]] sides [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]. He also played in the [[Football League]] for [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]], [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]. He earned 102 [[Cap (sport)|cap]]s for the [[Republic of Ireland national football team]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100690&Itemid=353|title=Ireland's International Players|publisher=FAI|date=17 February 2010|access-date=17 February 2010}}</ref> captained his team to the knock-out stage of the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] and earned his place in the [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps|FIFA Century Club]].

After retiring, he served as [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]] national team coach prior to [[Giovanni Trapattoni]]. He also spent five months as manager of [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]] in [[Football League Two]] and has worked on the coaching staff at [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].

==Career==

===Pre-Liverpool===
Born in [[Drogheda]], [[County Louth]],<ref name="Hugman2006-07"/> Staunton was an accomplished all-round sportsman. He grew up in [[Dundalk]], also in County Louth, and attended [[De La Salle College Dundalk|the De La Salle College in the town]]. As well as playing soccer for his home club of [[Dundalk F.C.|Dundalk]], he played [[Gaelic football]], appearing for [[Louth county football team|Louth]]'s U-16 team and winning a [[Louth Senior Football Championship|Louth Senior Championship]] medal with [[Clan Na Gael GFC (Louth)|Clan na Gael]]. He also played for his local team St Dominic's at underage level.

===Liverpool===
Staunton was spotted by Liverpool playing in Ireland for his home club of Dundalk as a 17-year-old and was signed on 2 September 1986 by manager [[Kenny Dalglish]] for a fee of £20,000.

He spent the first two seasons in the reserves and even went on loan to [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] for eight games during the [[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]] season as cover for the injured [[Karl Goddard]]. He made his Liverpool debut on 17 September 1988 in the 1–1 league draw with [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[Anfield]]. As a result of his impressive performance he remained in the side for the rest of the season, despite him being vastly inexperienced compared to the players around him who were defending a League championship title won the year before. Following on from his impressive debut he scored his first goal three days later on 20 September; however, his 80th-minute strike wasn't enough to prevent [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] winning the [[Football League Centenary Tournament|Centenary Trophy]] semi-final 2–1.

An injury to captain [[Alan Hansen]] meant that regular left back [[Gary Ablett (English footballer)|Gary Ablett]] had to be shifted across to the centre of defence. Staunton was therefore given his chance and proved an impressive and consistent performer in a team of strong players, playing his part as Liverpool challenged for the title again.

In the aftermath of the [[Hillsborough disaster]], which ultimately claimed the lives of 97 fans at the [[FA Cup]] semi-final on 15 April 1989, Staunton was among the players who comforted bereaved families and attended many of the funerals. He also put in an outstanding performance when the fateful FA Cup semi-final was rescheduled a month later, with Liverpool beating [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] 3–1.

Staunton played in the [[1989 FA Cup Final|FA Cup Final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] – he was substituted at the start of the extra-time period – as Liverpool defeated [[Merseyside]] rivals [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] 3–2. However, the season ended with disappointment when Liverpool lost the League title in [[Liverpool 0–2 Arsenal (26 May 1989)|a decider]] against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] at Anfield. The Gunners needed to win by two clear goals and were 1–0 up with just seconds remaining. With virtually the last kick of the season [[Michael Thomas (footballer, born 1967)|Michael Thomas]] broke through the centre of the Reds defence to score, thus stopping Liverpool gaining a second league and FA Cup [[Double (association football)|double]] – something which no English club had yet achieved.

The following year, Staunton was a frequent presence again as Liverpool reclaimed the League title. His first goals for Liverpool came in remarkable fashion on 4 October 1989 when he came on as a substitute in a [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] tie against [[Wigan Athletic]] and scored a hat-trick.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1701 |title=Wigan Athletic 0 - 3 Liverpool  |publisher=lfchistory.net |access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> The following season he scored twice more; against [[Crewe Alexandra]] in the League Cup<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1752 |title=Crewe Alexandra 1 - 4 Liverpool  |publisher=lfchistory.net |access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> and [[Blackburn Rovers]] in the [[FA Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lfchistory.net/SeasonArchive/Game/1767 |title=Liverpool 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers  |publisher=lfchistory.net |access-date=25 November 2016}}</ref> However 1990–91 was his final season with Liverpool before being astutely signed up by [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] on 7 August 1991 for £1.1 million. New manager [[Graeme Souness]] was accused{{by whom|date=September 2020}} of misjudging the player's abilities, though the ruling for European ties possibly had a bearing, with Staunton being classed as a [[Alien (law)|foreigner]], of which no team was allowed to field more than four; the [[Bosman ruling]] (which included the abolishment of quotas for [[European Union|EU]] citizens on teams in member countries) was not passed until 1995.

===Aston Villa===
[[File:Steve Staunton 1995.jpg|thumb|125px|Staunton in 1995.]]
Staunton made a good impression on the Villa fans by marking his debut on 17 August with a goal in the 3–2 win over [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]]. He soon became a regular in Villa's defence, alongside the likes of the legendary Villan Paul McGrath, as they finished seventh during the [[1991–92 in English football|1991–92]] season. The following year he played an important role in the club's push for the title in the first [[Premier League]] season. Villa, in the end, lost out to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] and had to settle for second place.

The following season, he won a [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] winners medal when he helped a wounded Villa gain revenge on Manchester United by beating them 3–1 (denying them a domestic treble). The League Cup medal completed his domestic medal set. In the [[1994–95 in English football|1994–95]] season, despite the club's managerial problems, he had a fine season and regularly captained the side. The [[1995–96 in English football|1995–96]] season was a mixed one for Staunton. He won another League Cup medal, this time as a non-playing substitute in the excellent 3–0 victory over [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], but his playing time was limited due to a number of injuries.

Over the next two seasons he was once again a regular in defence, playing his part in Villa's run to the [[UEFA Cup]] quarter finals in 1996–97. He also scored from a corner during his time at Villa. Meanwhile, in the league, he helped a transitional Villa team to a fifth-place finish in [[1996–97 in English football|1996–97]] and seventh in [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]].

===Return to Anfield===
With his contract set to expire at Villa, he gained a surprise move back to Liverpool on 3 July 1998 when joint managers [[Roy Evans]] and [[Gérard Houllier]] signed him on a free transfer.
On 27 September 1999, during the [[Merseyside]] derby against [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[Anfield]], Staunton played the last 15 minutes of the game in goal after [[Sander Westerveld]] had been sent off for fighting with [[Francis Jeffers]] after Liverpool had used all three substitutes. He scored once in his second spell at Liverpool, his goal coming in a League Cup tie against Hull City in September 1999.<ref>{{cite news
|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-boothferry-no-barrier-for-murphy-and-meijer-1119293.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-boothferry-no-barrier-for-murphy-and-meijer-1119293.html |archive-date=25 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live
|title=Boothferry no barrier for Murphy and Meijer |work=[[The Independent]] |date=14 September 1999 |access-date=13 November 2009 | location=London | first=Simon | last=Turnbull}}</ref>

His second spell on [[Merseyside]] lasted two years before he was told he could leave on a free transfer. After a brief loan spell at [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], where he made six league appearances and scored once against Tranmere Rovers,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/1027882.stm |title=Crystal Palace 3–2 Tranmere
|publisher=[[BBC]] |date=18 November 2000 |access-date=13 November 2009}}</ref> he was recalled to Anfield to appear in his 148th and last game for the Reds: it came on 23 November 2000 in the 2–2 draw with Greek side [[Olympiacos F.C.|Olympiakos]] in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/1037792.stm |title=Liverpool suffer late setback |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=23 November 2000 |access-date=27 May 2010}}</ref>

===Return to Villa Park===
On 7 December 2000, he re-joined Aston Villa on another free transfer. He played in 14 of the club's remaining league fixtures and then featured regularly for a further two seasons. He scored once in his second spell at Villa, his goal coming in the Intertoto Cup against FC Zurich.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/a/aston_villa/2154265.stm |title=Villa revive Euro dream |publisher=[[BBC]] |date=27 July 2002 |access-date=13 November 2009}}</ref>

===Coventry City===
Staunton continued to play club football, plying his trade with [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]], moving there on 15 August 2003 on another free transfer. He made his début on 16 August 2003 in the 0–0 league draw with [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] at [[Highfield Road (stadium)|Highfield Road]]. He remained with the Sky Blues until the summer of 2005, clocking up 75 appearances.

===Walsall===
Staunton decided not to renew his contract once it had expired, and instead joined [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] on 2 August 2005. He played just 10 times for Walsall and also held the post of assistant coach until 16 January 2006, when he was appointed manager of the Republic of Ireland senior international side. He was captain of the Walsall side that defeated [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] 2–0 on [[New Year's Eve]] 2005, in what was his final game as a professional footballer at the end of a 20-year career.

==International career==
Staunton made his debut for the Republic of Ireland in the 4–0 friendly win over [[Tunisia national football team|Tunisia]]. He went to Italy with [[Jack Charlton]]'s squad as the Republic of Ireland competed in their first ever [[FIFA World Cup 1990|FIFA World Cup finals]]. Staunton, the youngest member of the squad, played in every match at left back (though by now at club level he had also proved his usefulness as a central defender or midfield player) as the Republic of Ireland progressed to the quarter-finals, when they were beaten by the host nation.

He also represented the Republic of Ireland at [[FIFA World Cup 1994]] in the United States. Again, he played in each game as the Republic of Ireland succumbed in the second round to the [[Netherlands national football team|Netherlands]].

The Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for both [[1996 UEFA European Football Championship|Euro 96]] in England and the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] in France, though Staunton was still selected regularly for the team.

The Republic of Ireland qualified for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] held in Japan and South Korea following a playoff against [[Iran national football team|Iran]]. Staunton captained the Irish team in the second leg in [[Tehran]]. Coach [[Mick McCarthy]], who had been Staunton's captain at the country's first World Cup 12 years earlier, selected him for the squad and named him captain following the departure of [[Roy Keane]] from the squad.

Again, Staunton played in every Republic of Ireland game of the tournament, with the 1–1 group match draw against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] on 5 June proving to be a very special and historic occasion as he became the first Irishman to make 100 appearances for his country. Together with [[Gary Breen]], he formed an impressive central defensive partnership in front of [[Shay Given]]. Staunton was the first footballer to have reached a century of caps for the Republic of Ireland national team, and as of the end of Ireland's qualifying campaign for the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]] he was still the joint record holder with former teammates Shay Given and [[Kevin Kilbane]], though both players (along with [[Robbie Keane]]) have since emulated Staunton's appearance record.

Ireland's competition ended once more in the second round when they lost agonizingly to [[Spain national football team|Spain]] in a [[penalty shootout (football)|penalty shoot-out]] after the game had finished 1–1. Staunton announced his [[retirement]] from international football immediately afterwards after setting a national record of 102 appearances. He is the only player to have played in every single one of Ireland's 13 [[Republic of Ireland at the FIFA World Cup|World Cup finals]] games.

On two occasions he scored directly from corner-kicks. The first of which came in a 2–0 victory over Portugal on 7 June 1992, during a US Cup game in [[Boston]] and the second came in a 3–0 defeat of [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]] on 31 March 1993 during a World Cup qualifier in [[Dublin]].

==Managerial career==

===National team===
Following the [[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]'s failure to reach the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]], the tenure of manager [[Brian Kerr (Irish football manager)|Brian Kerr]] came to an end. A three-man [[Football Association of Ireland|Football Association of Ireland (FAI)]] subcommittee spearheaded by its former treasurer John Delaney was formed with the remit of appointing a capable successor to Kerr. Delaney assured the Irish public that a "world class" management team<ref name="World Class">{{cite web |url=http://www.pkellypr.com/blog/2007/1022/steve-staunton-trail-by-media-andor-a-shambolic-pr-performance-by-the-fai/ |title=Steve Staunton – Trial by media and/or a shambolic PR performance by the FAI |date=22 October 2007 |publisher=Piaras Kelly |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> would be appointed to oversee Ireland's qualification campaign for the 2008 European Championship. After an initial flurry of rumours linking names of the calibre of Alex Ferguson,<ref name="Ferguson">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4350336.stm |title=Ferguson denial over Republic job |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2005 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> Terry Venables<ref name="Venables">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4440098.stm |title=Venables interested in Irish post |publisher=BBC Sport |date=15 November 2005 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> and [[Bobby Robson]]<ref name="Robson">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4346580.stm |title=Robson plays down Republic link |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 October 2005 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> with the post, Staunton was released from his player/assistant manager role for [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] on 12 January 2006 and was officially named as Kerr's replacement the following day, with former [[England national football team|England]] [[England national football team manager|manager]] [[Sir Bobby Robson]] supporting him in the role of International Consultant and with former Aston Villa teammate Kevin MacDonald as coach.<ref name="Staunton Appointed">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4610306.stm |title=Republic appoint Staunton as boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 January 2006 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> Staunton was something of a shock appointment given the names that had been circulated and his own limited coaching and managerial experience.<ref name="BBC - Staunton Pays Price">{{cite news |url=https://www.h2g2.com/entry/A28284573 |title=Staunton pays price for Euro failure |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Richard |last=Petrie |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/remembering-the-steve-staunton-era-5596173-Nov2021/|title='Steve Staunton is an icon of Irish football and will always be' - remembering Stan's remarkable reign|date=10 November 2021|work=The 42|accessdate=10 November 2021}}</ref>

{{Quote box
|
"I know that the calibre of the team I have will bring a huge range of experience and talent to the challenges that lie ahead&nbsp;... I'm the boss. I'm the gaffer. At the end of the day what I say goes, the buck stops with me&nbsp;..." | source =&nbsp;— Staunton upon his appointment as Republic of Ireland manager.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0116/stauntons1.html | work=RTÉ News | title=Staunton insists: "I'm the boss!" | date=16 January 2006}}</ref>
| width = 27%
| align = right
| style = padding:10px;
}}

His international management career enjoyed a dream start, something Staunton called "a bit of a fairytale", when he led Ireland to an impressive 3–0 victory over [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] on 1 March 2006 with [[Damien Duff]], [[Robbie Keane]] (captaining the Republic of Ireland for the first time) and [[Liam Miller]] getting onto the score sheet. The victory over Sweden was followed by two friendly defeats, the first a disappointing 1–0 loss against [[Chile national football team|Chile]] on 23 May 2006 and then a 4–0 thrashing by [[Netherlands national football team|Holland]] at [[Lansdowne Road]], Ireland's worst home reverse in 40 years.

Prior to the Holland game, Staunton was confronted and threatened by a man outside the team hotel on Monday 14 August with a gun that turned out to be an imitation [[Uzi]] [[machine gun]].<ref name="Assault">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4792973.stm |title=Staunton unharmed after gun scare |work=BBC News |date=15 August 2006 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> The 31-year-old assailant was arrested at a nearby beach and released by police the following day. No physical harm was caused but the event was a public relations disaster for both Staunton and the FAI (this was not the first time an assailant had attacked members of the squad at that particular hotel).<ref name="Incident">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4794917.stm |title=Man freed in Staunton gun probe |work=BBC News |date=16 August 2006 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> Shortly after this incident further embarrassment was caused by the revelation that the FAI had sent news of Ireland midfielder [[Andy Reid (Irish footballer)|Andy Reid]]'s recall to the national side to the player's former club [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]] despite the fact that he was by then a [[Charlton F.C.|Charlton]] player.<ref name="Andy Reid recall slip-up">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/oct/02/newsstory.sport2 |title=Reid's Ireland recall sent to former club  |work=The Guardian |date=2 October 2006 |access-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>

It was against this backdrop that Staunton oversaw his first competitive match in charge as Republic of Ireland manager; a 1–0 defeat against [[Germany national football team|Germany]] in [[Stuttgart]], Ireland losing despite a battling performance. Staunton himself was sent off by the referee for kicking a water bottle onto the pitch in frustration during the second half. Worse was swiftly to follow. On 7 October 2006, in their second [[UEFA Euro 2008]] qualifier, Ireland suffered a demoralising 5–2 defeat by lowly [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] in [[Nicosia]]. Staunton was watching from the stands, having been given a touchline ban for his sending-off in Germany. The defeat by Cyprus heaped additional pressure on the already beleaguered Staunton, who even at this early stage of his leadership was already facing calls for his resignation,<ref name="Why Stan must go">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/oct/09/republicofireland |title=Why Stan must go  |work=The Guardian |date=9 October 2006 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> ahead of Ireland's next game which was at home to the [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] on 11 October. The FAI, when pressed on the matter, refused to deny that a poor result would result in the manager's immediate dismissal.<ref name="Staunton one game from sack">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2006/oct/11/newsstory.sport3 |title=Staunton one game from sack  |work=The Guardian |date=11 October 2006 |access-date=18 November 2015}}</ref> An improved performance against the Czechs resulted in a 1–1 draw, a result that eased the pressure on Staunton to some extent.

Staunton was seen to be emotional after the 5–0 victory over [[San Marino national football team|San Marino]]; it was to be the last match to be played on the old Lansdowne Road pitch. In the return fixture, a poor performance ensured the team needed a goal from Stephen Ireland four minutes into injury time to secure the three points with a final score of 2–1. Coming so close to dropping points against a team ranked 195th in the world at the time of the match immediately sparked further calls for the manager's resignation.<ref name="San Marino">{{cite news |url=http://www.buzzle.com/articles/126759.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209062923/http://www.buzzle.com/articles/126759.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=9 February 2007 |title=European Championship Qualifier: San Marino 1 – 2 Ireland |publisher=Guardian News Media |date=2 July 2007 |access-date=10 February 2011 }}</ref>

Ireland returned to form with two successive 1–0 home victories over [[Wales national football team|Wales]] and [[Slovakia national football team|Slovakia]] which brought them close to contention for second place in Group D of the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying groups. Such was the surprise that greeted the results that RTÉ presenter Bill O'Herlihy concluded the coverage of the Slovakia game with the comment, "Ireland are now in contention for qualification for Euro 2008. Who would have thought it?" The upswing in form continued on 22 August 2007 with a 4–0 win in a non-competitive match against [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] in [[Aarhus]]. Staunton was delighted with the results<ref name="BBC - Staunton Delighted With Win">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/6504751.stm |title=Staunton thrilled by Republic win |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> and headed into the next set of fixtures with Ireland placed third in the qualifying group.

The victories, however, proved to be something of a false dawn as, over the space of five days in September, an injury-hit Ireland dropped five points from two games and saw their qualifying campaign effectively come to an end. Leading 2–1 away to Slovakia the team would emerge with just one point after an injury-time strike from Marek Cech cancelled their advantage. Staunton was disappointed by the performance but four days later, on 12 September, a 1–0 defeat to the Czech Republic in [[Prague]] crippled the qualifying campaign. A 0–0 draw with Germany on 13 October at [[Croke Park]] and a 1–1 draw at home to Cyprus in the same stadium four days later (during which a chorus of boos greeted the final whistle)<ref name="BBC - Defiant Staunton Vows To Stay On">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/7050033.stm |title=Defiant Staunton vows to stay on |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> secured qualification for both Germany and the Czech Republic. Ireland would not be competing in the 2008 European Championship.

Amid the fans' dissatisfaction, many pundits commented that Staunton was now effectively on borrowed time<ref name="BBC - Staunton Pays Price"/> and the FAI announced that an emergency meeting was to be called to discuss Staunton's position on 23 October.<ref name="FAI Meeting">{{cite news |url=http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=29718 |title=FAI meeting set for Tuesday – reports |publisher=eleven-a-side.com |date=21 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160804220537/http://www.eleven-a-side.com/offthefield/irish_soccer_detail.asp?newsid=29718 |archive-date=4 August 2016}}</ref> Prior to this, John Delaney gave an interview to [[RTÉ]] where he refused to publicly back the beleaguered manager and attempted to extricate himself from any responsibility for his role in Staunton's initial appointment.<ref name="RTÉ Refuse To Give Staunton Backing">{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1019/stauntons.html |title=FAI refuse to give Staunton backing |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=19 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111222331/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2007/1019/stauntons.html |archive-date=11 January 2009 }}</ref> Staunton, for his part, refused to resign and publicly stated that he intended to see out the remainder of his four-year contract.<ref name="BBC - Defiant Staunton Vows To Stay On"/>

On the evening of 23 October 2007, after initially indicating to reporters that the FAI meeting would take place in Dublin's Crowne Plaza Hotel, where two executive rooms had been hired for use by the FAI, it emerged that Staunton had met the FAI in secret in the Radisson Hotel at Dublin airport where he made his case to be retained in the job. The FAI subsequently met in private discussion for six hours<ref name="Staunton departs after long night of intrigue">{{cite news |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/staunton-departs-after-long-night-of-intrigue-1.1303138 |title=Staunton departs after long night of intrigue |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=20 November 2015}}</ref> after which it was confirmed that Staunton's turbulent 21-month reign as international manager had come to an end.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2007/10/24/story333420.asp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713043300/http://archives.tcm.ie/breakingnews/2007/10/24/story333420.asp |url-status=dead |archive-date=13 July 2012 |title=FAI to seek advice in Staunton successor search |work=Irish Examiner |date=24 October 2007 |access-date=6 October 2009 }}</ref> He was replaced by [[Don Givens]] who temporarily took charge of the national team until [[Giovanni Trapattoni]]'s appointment as manager.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.the42.ie/steve-staunton-gaffer-5095769-May2020/|title =20 years of drama in Irish football, Chapter 4: The gaffer, the grannies and Miss Piggy|date=14 May 2020|work=The 42|access-date=14 May 2020}}</ref>

===Leeds United===
On 4 February 2008, Staunton joined up with recently appointed [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] manager [[Gary McAllister]] for a training session, with a view to becoming McAllister's assistant manager at the club. He was given the post later that day.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7226035.stm |title=Staunton is named Leeds assistant |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=4 February 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> In his first month at Leeds, the club did not win a game, until a 1–0 victory on 1 March against [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]. When McAllister was sacked by Leeds United in December 2008 after five consecutive defeats, Staunton also left the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/7795383.stm |title=Leeds begin search for new boss |date=22 December 2008 |access-date=22 December 2008 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Darlington===
Staunton was appointed as a [[Scout (sport)|scout]] at [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] under manager [[Mick McCarthy]]. In May 2009, it was reported that he had applied for the then vacant manager's seat at [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]. On 5 October 2009, he was announced as [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]] manager, to take over officially two days later following a [[Football League Trophy]] game against his previous club Leeds United. His contract was initially to take him to the end of the season, with [[Kevin Richardson (footballer)|Kevin Richardson]] appointed as his assistant manager.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/4664323.___BREAKING_NEWS____Darlington_appoint_Staunton_as_manager/ |title=Darlington appoint Staunton as manager |first=Scott |last=Wilson |work=The Northern Echo |date=5 October 2009 |access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8290324.stm|title=Darlington name Staunton as boss |date=5 October 2009|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref> Staunton lost his first game in charge, 2–0 to [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_3/8293277.stm|title=Dag & Red 2–0 Darlington|date=10 October 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=13 October 2009}}</ref> On 21 March 2010, with Darlington bottom of the league and facing relegation to the [[Football Conference]], Staunton was sacked as the Darlington manager.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/mar/21/darlington-sack-steve-staunton|title=Darlington sack Steve Staunton as manager|date=21 March 2010|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=25 August 2020|location=London}}</ref> He had won just four games from his 23 league matches in charge, although his sacking was also put down to a record low crowd for a league game at the [[Darlington Arena]] of 1,463 against [[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]] in Staunton's final match in charge.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/d/darlington/8578728.stm |title=Darlington part company with manager Steve Staunton |date=21 March 2010 |access-date=21 March 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref>

===Sunderland===
Staunton was then handed a job as a [[Scout (sport)|scout]] at [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] on 22 August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14614958|title=Steve Staunton handed Sunderland backroom staff role|date=22 August 2011|publisher=BBC Sport}}</ref> However, he was relieved of his role in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rokerreport.com/2013/6/20/4447648/staunton-leaves-sunderland|title=Staunton Leaves Sunderland|website=rokerreport.com|date=20 June 2013}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other{{efn|Includes [[FA Community Shield|FA Charity Shield]], [[Full Members Cup]] and Centenary Trophy}}
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] (loan)
|[[1987–88 in English football|1987–88]]
|[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]]
|8||0||0||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||11||0
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|[[1987–88 Liverpool F.C. season|1987–88]]
|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|[[1988–89 Liverpool F.C. season|1988–89]]
|First Division
|21||0||3||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||29||0
|-
|[[1989–90 Liverpool F.C. season|1989–90]]
|First Division
|20||0||6||0||2||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||3
|-
|[[1990–91 Liverpool F.C. season|1990–91]]
|First Division
|24||0||7||1||2||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||33||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!65!!0!!16!!1!!8!!4!!colspan="2"|–!!1!!0!!90!!5
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
|[[1991–92 Aston Villa F.C. season|1991–92]]
|First Division
|37||4||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||4
|-
|[[1992–93 Aston Villa F.C. season|1992–93]]
|[[Premier League]]
|42||2||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||42||2
|-
|[[1993–94 Aston Villa F.C. season|1993–94]]
|Premier League
|24||3||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24||3
|-
|[[1994–95 Aston Villa F.C. season|1994–95]]
|Premier League
|35||5||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||35||5
|-
|[[1995–96 Aston Villa F.C. season|1995–96]]
|Premier League
|13||0||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||13||0
|-
|[[1996–97 Aston Villa F.C. season|1996–97]]
|Premier League
|30||1||||||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||30||1
|-
|[[1997–98 Aston Villa F.C. season|1997–98]]
|Premier League
|27||1||4||1||0||0||8{{efn|name=UC|Appearances in [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]]}}||0||colspan="2"|–||39||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!208!!16!!4!!1!!0!!0!!8!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!220!!17
|-
|rowspan="4"|Liverpool
|[[1998–99 Liverpool F.C. season|1998–99]]
|Premier League
|31||0||1||0||2||0||6{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||40||0
|-
|[[1999–2000 Liverpool F.C. season|1999–2000]]
|Premier League
|12||0||1||0||3||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||16||1
|-
|[[2000–01 Liverpool F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|1||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||1{{efn|name=UC}}||0||colspan="2"|–||2||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!44!!0!!2!!0!!5!!1!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!58!!1
|-
|[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] (loan)
|[[2000–01 Crystal Palace F.C. season|2000–01]]
|First Division
|6||1||||||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||6||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|Aston Villa
|[[2000–01 Aston Villa F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|14||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||17||0
|-
|[[2001–02 Aston Villa F.C. season|2001–02]]
|Premier League
|33||0||1||0||2||0||2||0||colspan="2"|–||38||0
|-
|[[2002–03 Aston Villa F.C. season|2002–03]]
|Premier League
|26||0||0||0||3||0||3||1||colspan="2"|–||32||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!73!!0!!4!!0!!5!!0!!5!!1!!colspan="2"|–!!87!!1
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|[[2003–04 Coventry City F.C. season|2003–04]]
|First Division
|35||3||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||38||3
|-
|[[2004–05 Coventry City F.C. season|2004–05]]
|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|35||1||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||37||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!70!!4!!3!!0!!2!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!75!!4
|-
|[[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
|[[2005–06 Football League One|2005–06]]
|[[Football League One|League One]]
|7||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||10||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!481!!21!!31!!2!!22!!5!!20!!1!!3!!0!!557!!29
|}

{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
|1988||2||0
|-
|1989||6||0
|-
|1990||13||1
|-
|1991||7||0
|-
|1992||8||1
|-
|1993||7||3
|-
|1994||11||0
|-
|1995||7||1
|-
|1996||3||0
|-
|1997||9||0
|-
|1998||4||0
|-
|1999||5||1
|-
|2000||4||1
|-
|2001||8||0
|-
|2002||8||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!102!!8
|}

===Managerial===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan="5"|Record
|-
!G||W||D||L||Win %
|-
|align=left|[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland]]
|align=left|January 2006
|align=left|October 2007
{{WDL|17|6|6|5}}
|-
|align=left|[[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]
|align=left|October 2009
|align=left|March 2010
{{WDL|25|4|2|19}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|42|10|8|24}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Liverpool'''
*[[Football League First Division]]: [[1989–90 Football League First Division|1989–90]]
*[[FA Cup]]: [[1988–89 FA Cup|1988–89]]
*[[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1988 FA Charity Shield|1988]], [[1990 FA Charity Shield|1990]] (shared)

'''Aston Villa'''
*[[Football League Cup]]: [[1993–94 Football League Cup|1993–94]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-cocacola-cup-final-saunders-destroys-united-s-dream-aston-villa-s-master-plan-puts-paid-to-ferguson-s-malfunctioning-big-red-machine-as-kanchelskis-is-dismissed-1432264.html |title=Football / Coca-Cola Cup Final: Saunders destroys United's dream: Aston Villa's master plan puts paid to Ferguson's malfunctioning Big Red Machine as Kanchelskis is dismissed |first=Joe |last=Lovejoy |website=The Independent |date=27 March 1994 |access-date=16 April 2024}}</ref> [[1995–96 Football League Cup|1995–96]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/milosevic-gives-villa-a-touch-of-magic-1343925.html |title=Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic |website=The Independent |date=25 March 1996 |access-date=2 April 2024}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[FAI International Football Awards#Senior International Player of the Year|FAI Senior International Player of the Year]]: 1993<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cunningham Player of the Year |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/cunningham-player-of-the-year-26171481.html |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=independent |date=11 October 1998 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[FAI International Football Awards#Young International Player of the Year|FAI Young International Player of the Year]]: 1989<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inaugural FAI International Football Awards |url=https://www.rte.ie//archives/2014/1111/658506-inaugural-fai-international-football-awards/ |access-date=2022-05-14 |website=RTÉ Archives |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* {{UEFA player}}
* [http://www.lfchistory.net/player_profile.asp?player_id=418 Profile] at [http://www.lfchistory.net LFChistory.net]
* [http://www.thisisanfield.com/columnists/2007/07/forgotten-heroes-steve-staunton/ Thisisanfield.com Forgotten Heroes]
* {{Soccerbase}}
* {{soccerbase (manager)|id=2062|name=Steve Staunton}}
*{{IMDb name|1596609|Steve Staunton}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070311105827/http://www.astonvillayears.com/years/1990-1994starplayers.htm Information on player]
* [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4610306.stm BBC – Republic appoint Staunton as boss]
<!--* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=2022 Liverpool seasonal record (Part 1) 1986/87-1990/91 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=6109 Aston Villa seasonal record (Part 1) 1991/92-1993/94 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=6110 Aston Villa seasonal record (Part 2) 1994/95-1997/98 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=2023 Liverpool seasonal record (Part 2) 1998/99-2000/01 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=6111 Aston Villa seasonal record (Part 3) 2000/01-2002/03 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_club.asp?HeroID=10157 Coventry City seasonal record 2003/04-2005/06 at sporting-heroes.net]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football-heroes/displayhero_worldcup.asp?HeroID=6969 Republic of Ireland FIFA World Cup 2002 record at sporting-heroes.net]-->

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|titlestyle=background: gold
|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|
 before=[[Roy Keane]]|
 title=[[Republic of Ireland national football team|Republic of Ireland national team]] Captain|
 years=2002|
 after=[[Kenny Cunningham]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Paul Merson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Aston Villa F.C.]] Captain|years=2002–2003}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Olof Melberg]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{FAI Senior International Player of the Year}}
{{FAI Young International Player of the Year}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Republic of Ireland squads
|bg=Green
|fg=white
|list1=
{{Republic of Ireland squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Republic of Ireland squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Steve Staunton managerial positions
|list1=
{{Republic of Ireland national football team managers}}
{{Darlington F.C. managers}}
}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|Republic of Ireland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Staunton, Steve}}
[[Category:1969 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Gaelic footballers who switched code]]
[[Category:Gaelic games players from County Louth]]
[[Category:People educated at De La Salle College Dundalk]]
[[Category:St Dominic's (Louth) Gaelic footballers]]
[[Category:Association footballers from Dundalk]]
<!-- SOCCER PLAYER -->
[[Category:Association football scouts]]
[[Category:Men's association football full-backs]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's association footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland national football team managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland association football managers]]
[[Category:Republic of Ireland men's under-21 international footballers]]
[[Category:Dundalk F.C. players]]
[[Category:League of Ireland players]]
[[Category:Liverpool F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bradford City A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Aston Villa F.C. players]]
[[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. players]]
[[Category:Coventry City F.C. players]]
[[Category:Walsall F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Premier League players]]
[[Category:Darlington F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:Sunderland A.F.C. non-playing staff]]
[[Category:1990 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA Men's Century Club]]
[[Category:20th-century Irish sportsmen]]