Mick McCarthy has revealed he will ‘never forget’ the ‘brutal advice’ he received from Jack Charlton that completely changed his game and turned him into Ireland captain.

The former Republic of Ireland player and manager joined talkSPORT on Saturday to pay an emotional tribute to his old boss and England legend, following his sad passing.

Charlton passed away at his Northumerland home on Friday after a battle with lymphoma and dementia. He was aged 85.

<figure id="attachment_730587" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-730587" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-730587" class="wp-caption-text">Jack Charlton was, and still is, a national hero in Ireland due to what he achieved as Republic of Ireland manager</figcaption></figure>

‘Big Jack’ leaves a lasting legacy in the English and Irish game.

Part of the Three Lions’ 1966 World Cup winning team and a one-club legend at Leeds United, Charlton also changed the fortunes of the Republic of Ireland team during his ten years in charge between 1986 and 1996, taking them to their first major tournament at Euro 88 as well as two World Cups.

McCarthy was just one of the players to thrive under his leadership, eventually being made captain of the national team and later following in Charlton’s footsteps by succeeding him as manger in 1996.

And McCarthy has shared his fond memories of the former boss, saying he will ‘never forget’ the impact Charlton had on his playing and managerial career.

“Jack and what he did for Ireland, it lifted the country,” he told the Warm Up on talkSPORT.

“It was the happiest time of my life in that team, and I’ve got Jack to thank for that.

<figure id="attachment_730608" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-730608" style="width: 960px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-730608" class="wp-caption-text">Jack Charlton made Mick McCarthy his Republic of Ireland captain, and he later followed in his boss’ footsteps to become manager himself</figcaption></figure>

“He made it very simple for me and I’ll always remember him for that.

“He never dressed it up, his advice to me was, ‘win the ball back, head it and give it to somebody who can play’.

“It sounded a bit brutal, and when I heard it first as a kid I didn’t like it, but I soon realised that’s exactly how I should be playing.

“And he wanted me in the team for that. He trusted me and he gave me the captaincy.

“I wasn’t the best player in that team, nowhere near, but he saw something in me and my football at club level blossomed as well during that time.

“I’ll never forget him for that.”

Listen back to Mick McCarthy’s tribute to Jack Charlton on talkSPORT above

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