The move proved highly successful, with the experienced Stanton excelling in defence and playing a total of 44 league and cup games for Celtic, losing only 4.
[6][11][13] Stanton played in Celtic's 1977 tour of Singapore and Australia, with Celtic winning the World of Soccer Cup tournament after victories against Red Star Belgrade at Olympic Park Stadium (2-0), a 3-2 win against Arsenal at Sydney Cricket Ground, and victories against the Singapore and Australia national teams.
[14][15] At the start of the 1977-78 season however, he suffered a knee injury in a 0-0 draw against Dundee United on 14 August 1977, which eventually forced his retirement from playing.
[20][21][22] Stanton got a start in coaching when Alex Ferguson made him his assistant at Aberdeen, a position he held for one season,[23] that resulted in winning the Premier Division title together.
A composed midfielder who could also operate in a defensive role, Stanton was noted for his reading of the game, tackling, and passing ability.
[30][31] Stanton had a minor acting role in the 1998 film adaptation of The Acid House, in which he played a barman in the segment titled 'The Granton Star cause'.