‘Feeling of not contributing’ makes Italia ’90 celebration harder for Hughton

A consistent performer over half a century of caps, the Spurs legend had a watching brief at the World Cup. 

1982 FIFA World Cup Qualifier, Feijenoord Stadion, Rotterdam, Holland 9/9/1981

Now, as was then, Chris Hughton is the consummate team player. When Ireland’s legends are feted 35 years on from Italia ’90 before adoring crowds in Dublin and Cork, he’ll smile and wave like every one of the reunited squad.

Yet behind the veneer he’ll feel a little detached.

Hughton played his part in lifting two FA Cups and a Uefa Cup for Tottenham Hotspur as well as starting all three of Ireland’s Euro ’88 games in Germany.

Even though the defender was again involved in five of Ireland’s eight qualifiers on the way to Italy, being cast as a bystander as they reached the quarter-finals continues to gnaw away.

“There will be mixed emotions for me when meeting up with the lads,” said the 66-year-old.

“We saw the joyous scenes in Italy and from back home as the team progressed through the tournament but ultimately you want to play.

“Sometimes people don’t realise that when you don’t play at all, there’s a different connotation to the tournament. It was an incredible experience, especially meeting the Pope in Rome, but amid the celebrations it’s that bit harder when there’s the feeling of not contributing.” Hughton was a victim of timing.

While he was 31, competing for his left-back spot a rising 21-year-old who would go on to become the first Ireland male centurion.

Stephen Staunton had played 28 games of Liverpool’s title-winning season and, although he shared the duties between the pair in warm-up friendlies, Jack Charlton faced a dilemma heading to Cagliari for the opener against England.

It was while one of those customary pre-match walks that Hughton foresaw his fate.

Hughton was next man in had there been injuries or suspensions to Staunton or Chris Morris on the opposite berth he’d fulfilled at the Euros. Both played all five games and there was just a fleeting few days when the back-up was on standby. It would be the biggest occasion of them all – the World Cup quarter-final against the hosts in Rome.

“Steve came off injured for Dave O’Leary against Romania and I was prepped to fill in,” he recalls.

“It was uncertain during those few days whether he’d recover but Steve was in peak physical condition so I missed out.

“Back then, managers tended to keep their back-four intact once the team was doing well. Rotation wasn’t even a thing.” 

Such was Charlton’s rigidity that only 16 players were used across a timespan of almost 500 minutes.

Affectionately known in camp as The Muppets, there was certainly no mocking where the rest of his career would take one of the six overlooked.

Hughton was one of only three squad members, alongside Mick McCarthy and O’Leary, to manage in the Premier League.

Ironically, his knack for coaching was spotted by Charlton and inadvertently led to him bowing out of international football on a winning note in Turkey – all of 17 months after his World Cup snub.

“I ended up starting a match despite not being picked in the original squad,” he explained. “Jack had invited me to start my coaching journey but by the time we got to Istanbul players I’d gone from training players to being teammates. We won that European qualifier 3-1 too.” 

Sore as he was with his observer’s role in Italy, Hughton hadn’t contemplated quitting international football to prolong his club career.

“I’m always surprised to hear of players retiring from their country by their own choice,” he noted.

“There can be circumstances such as injury but I made myself available until the manager picked someone else. I’m very proud of my 53 caps but 54 or 55 would sound better.” For the next 14 years, Hughton was part of Tottenham’s backroom staff, including a couple of caretaker stints between bosses. The same situation arose at Newcastle United, following the departures of Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer, and his permanency was the forerunner to guiding the Magpies back to the Premier League in 2010.

Controversially sacked by Mike Ashley, he was soon back in work at Birmingham City, moving onto Norwich City and ending up at Brighton and Hove Albion for five years. They’ve remained a Premier League club since their 2017 promotion.

Not so successful were the more recent stints at Nottingham Forest and Ghana but he’s not declaring time on his managerial career.

He was linked with the Ireland vacancy this time last year when the FAI were searching far and wide but the intention following the African Cup of Nations was a period of downtime.

“I’d required a knee replacement for some time and this was the period to get it done,” he said of the surgery six months ago.

“Since recovering from the operation, I’ve been busy getting around attending games and doing some media work.

“As long as I’ve got the energy and enthusiasm to manage, I’m open to opportunities.” He didn’t cross paths with Heimir Hallgrímsson around the AFCON, the last assignments for the Icelander before accepting the Ireland job but continues to watch the team closely.

“The World Cup draw could have been a lot worse,” he opined by the pool that includes Hungary and either Portugal and Denmark.

“It’s difficult to qualify for the tournament but even by being competitive in the group, it would breed confidence into this young group of players.” From her East London home, his Limerick-born mother Christine still tracks the fortunes of the team her son became the first mixed-race player in. How things have changed in the 46 years since.

“Although AFCON didn’t go well for Ghana, I can always say that I managed the country where my late father (Willie) was born,” he surmised.

“And to play over a decade from my mother’s nation was something I’ll always cherish.” 

He’ll be entitled to revel in those memories this weekend.

** Tickets for Italia 90: An Evening With The Greatest Football Team at Dublin’s RDS this Friday, 14 March are still available.