James McClean not done by a long shot!

James McClean is not even considering life after football just yet, insisting he remains as fit and as hungry as he has ever been.

At the end of two hectic weeks of celebrating the achievement of his 100th cap for his country, McClean sat down just ahead of a civic reception at the Guildhall to take a breath following a hectic time for he and his family.

Fifteen years ago, a skinny teenager from Creggan bundled the ball over the line across Bohemians for his first Derry City goal, the start of an incredible and fascinating story which has reached its most celebrated chapter yet.

On the occasion of his 100th cap for the Republic of Ireland, McClean was chosen to lead his team out as captain, for a must-win European Championship Qualifier against Gibraltar at the Aviva Stadium. There was plenty of fanfare for McClean, who played his part in a 3-0 win with two assists, a night that proved to be the start of a fortnight of public acknowledgement for becoming only the seventh man in Irish football history to reach a century of appearances.

It has been quite the ride, with the Creggan man unable to fully grasp the enormity of his achievement just yet.

“At the minute, probably not because everything has just been so hectic and constantly on the go,” he admitted. “I haven’t really had time to just sit back and let it all sink in. That’s obviously a good thing though because so much has been happening and so many people have celebrated and acknowledged the achievement which is a great feeling. It’s been 100 miles per hour, but to be honest, I’m relishing every second of it.”

Maintaining focus on the result, rather than the occasion was key for McClean for that historic night against Gibraltar.

“First and foremost, that was a concern of mines, to make sure that it just wasn’t a side show because there was actually a game to win, and an important game to win,” he said. “It was important to balance that and make sure that, going into the game, you’ve got this tremendous achievement, but at the same time you’ve been chosen to lead the team out that needs an important victory.

So, first and foremost that’s your main objective. I thought I balanced the act quite well, and to get the honour of captaining your country at any time is some honour, but to do it on your 100th cap is obviously a special feeling.

“I had my family there, and I was getting it off the President of the country and the President of the FAI so the night couldn’t have gone any better to be honest.”

Full circle

McClean’s connection with Stephen Kenny has come full circle now, with the Dubliner the man to give him his senior debut with the Candystripes, now the Republic of Ireland manager and the man to facilitate that extraordinary achievement with his country.

“It's one of those footballing stories isn’t it, they have a funny way of writing a script,” McClean acknowledged. “I will obviously be forever grateful to Stephen for giving me my first start in football and taking a chance on me. Then, for him to give me my 100th cap, I think that was fitting. I know for him, having spoken to him the day before, that he was quite proud of that fact as well.

“It was a nice moment; looking back at 2008 when I started out at Derry, and here we are 15 years later, he’s the manager of the country and I’m the captain for my 100th cap, so it bodes well and it looks well for both of us.”

Joining Damien Duff on 100 caps, McClean is on an elite list of Irish centurions, now just behind Steve Staunton, Kevin Kilbane, John O’Shea, Shay Given and Robbie Keane, four of whom he has played alongside during his time on the international scene.

“It’s unbelievable to be honest; to join that list,” he agreed. “It’s not bad company to be in, and providing I stay fit and well and keep performing and getting selected, I’m hoping to add a few more caps to that. I feel great at the minute and I still feel that I have a lot to offer.  A lot of other factors will determine that; fitness, form, being selected, but at the minute I have no plans to call it at 100.

“I’ve always been that type of person, where I just look at the short-term. I never look too far beyond, because in football, as well as life, if you plan too far ahead, there’s always a spanner in the works and things could change. You can’t really set yourself on one plan because they alter, but at the minute, my focus is on the immediate future. I feel as fit as I always have and I feel as hungry as I always have. I’m in a good place, I feel well and I have no plans beyond the short-term.”

For all of the controversy that has unfortunately attached itself to McClean throughout his career, he is proud that he has won plenty of fans over on the pitch, having become only the fourth Wigan Athletic player in history to win the annual ‘Player of the Year’ ward on two separate occasions.

“You’re always going to get that anyway. You can’t please everybody,” he insisted. “If you look over my career, I’ve done okay. If you just look at the football side of things, I think I’ve let my football do the talking. Obviously, people want to make a sideshow about other stuff, but, for me it’s always been about football, and that’s the way I’ve always wanted it.

“Other things have happened throughout and some of them were in my control, and some weren’t in my control, but you can’t dwell on that. When I step onto a football pitch, I want the football to do the talking, and when I look back on the football side of things, I’m quite satisfied with that.”

Support

Throughout his side from his Derry City days to the present, has been his wife Erin, who, he believes, deserves as much credit, of not more, for the road his career has taken.

“To be quite honest, without Erin, a lot of this wouldn’t have happened,” he said. “She has to make a lot of sacrifices to allow me to allow me to do my job. When I go away with the internationals, sometimes it’s 10 days to three weeks at a time, and she has got the four wains to look after over there on her own, which is unbelievable. She is very supportive. There are times I’m going to the gym two or three times a day and there’s never a problem. She understands that this is what I have to do. She’s been supportive the whole way so she deserves as much credit as anybody to be honest.”

McClean has spent a lot of time in recent weeks reconnecting with friends and family back home, and it hasn’t been a strange occurrence to see him walking through the town at his leisure, even if he is stopped or greeted every five or six steps.

“I’ve always felt that way, I’ve never felt any different,” he continued. “When I’m home I don’t think that I’m better than anybody else or that I should be treated any different. When I’m home, I’m with my mates, I’m one of the lads, I’m with my family. I would never look down on people and I would always have time for people. At the end of the day, I’m just as normal as everyone else in this city, and that’s the way it is and that’s how I’ve always viewed it. I don’t want to be treated any differently. I’ll chat away to people; I think that’s important, and I’ve always stayed the same person no matter what.”

One thing that absolutely cannot be denied is that James has shown unbelievable resilience throughout his career and, asked for what advice he would give any other young footballer hoping for a career in England, he was straight to the point.

“You are only human,” he agreed. “I think for me, you are a product of your environment and that does play a big part, where you come from. I’m quite a resilient lad anyway, but especially for young footballers; if you get the chance to play professional football, you have one career, so give it absolutely everything you’ve got.

“You can always reap the rewards after you finish, but for that 15-, 16- or 17-year period, give it everything and when you do stop playing, have no regrets. You will still be young enough to enjoy all the sacrifices then that you’ve work hard for. You obviously have to have talent, but combine that with hard work and dedication, then you’re on the right path.”