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That infamous night in Nicosia last October - where the Irish suffered a 5-2 spanking - was the moment the penny dropped for most Irish fans that Stan didn't know his a rse from his elbow. In nations where the FA isn't run by sheep, that result would have cost 99% of managers their job. Now Cyprus travel to GAA HQ for a game that's about as appetising as a tetanus shot, and even the Cyprus coach is surprised to still see Staunton at the helm.
"It would definitely have been more difficult to have the same coach in Greece or Cyprus after that game," taunted Cypriot boss Angelos Anastasiadis, obviously getting ideas above his station. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of the green, white and gold camp.
"Cyprus are a decent side," said Stan, who one senses that if he were any more dry he'd fart dust. "They drew with the Germans at home, should have beat them maybe and again in the Czech Republic they should have got something. We know it'll be tough. They do play differently away from homeThey certainly do Stan. S hite would best describe it. You think they maybe should have beat the Germans and should have got something in the Czech Republic? Sound strangely similar to the fortunes of another side in Group D?
"The defeat 12 months ago was a nightmare," Staunton continued. "Everybody was hurt by the defeat. Even at 4-2 we thought we could get something out of the game. But now it's gone, it's history. End of story."
But as much as Staunton would like it to be, that result is never going to go far beneath the surface during his reign. It 's history alright, the most embarrassing result in Irish history. To beat the shameful Macedonia defeat in 1997 took some doing, but Stan achieved it through the incompetence of Paddy Kenny, Andy O'Brien and Clinton Morrisson, players who haven't shown their faces on this island since.
Anything less than a win and the "gaffer" can follow them.