Standing outside the British ambassador's residence yesterday, Niall Quinn looked every inch a diplomat.
The well-tailored suit, the articulate handling of a wide range of media questions, the occasional deft side-step when required. But for all his obvious polish, he still has a bit to learn about the art of diplomacy.
Earlier, as he collected his honorary MBE, he took the opportunity to remind the ambassador that the runaway favourite among the record number of goals he scored for Ireland was the one against England at Wembley in 1991. To his hosts' credit, they gave him the MBE anyway. As a result, he stood before us as an honorary member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.
In keeping with tradition, the award was presented - on a cushion - by the British defence attaché. There was a certain aptness in this, because during an illustrious career as an international striker, Quinn attracted the attentions of a long line of defence attachés, many of whom were also trying to decorate him. At the World Cup last year, a Spanish defender attachéd him so securely that it won Ireland a penalty. And the modest Dubliner looked just as pleased yesterday with the latest award in his favour, posing for the cameras with his wife Gillian, and children Aisling (9) and Michael (6).
The citation for the MBE was not published (possibly because it had to be amended at the last minute to include a royal pardon over the Wembley incident). But in a statement, British ambassador Stewart Eldon paid tribute to a player who, off the pitch as well as on, has towered over most of his contemporaries.
"It has been said that sports do not build character - they reveal it," the statement read. "Today we congratulate a sportsman, widely admired throughout these islands, whose character and achievements are a real example to us all." Chief among those achievements was the donation of all proceeds from his Sunderland testimonial to children's hospitals in Dublin and Sunderland. He again played down his generosity yesterday: "I had a very privileged life as a footballer ... But in any case [the testimonial] was a game I didn't feel I deserved." And for all that he enjoyed scoring against its footballers, he added: "England was very good to me." He has now moved back home, and is engaged in the twin challenges of building a house here and "trying to drill Irish into the kids". There are other challenges too, notably his new career as a Gaelic footballer at junior club level in Kildare.
In terms of toughness, this is a step up from the English Premiership. So as he prepared for lunch in Glencairn, attended by guests including his parents Billy and Mary, and Tipperary hurling legend Nicky English, he could not afford to overindulge.
"We have a Junior B quarter-final coming up," he said. "I have to go easy on the champagne."
