FROM the dazzling brilliance of George Best to missing out on Maradona, putting Martin O’Neill in his place or why Wenger’s time is almost up, Terry Neill is not short of a story - or an opinion.
The pupils of Bangor Grammar School found this out at first hand last week as the former Northern Ireland and Arsenal star held court during a lively half hour question and answer session.
Neill, who lives in London, was back home for the launch of the school’s new ‘Sporting Wall of Fame’, where he is one of 32 past pupils to be honoured for their endeavours on the international stage.
A no-nonsense centre-back, Neill established himself as an Arsenal regular in the 1964-’65 season, was later named captain and went on to manage Northern Ireland while still playing for Hull City.
But those are only some of the bare facts of a colourful career on either side of the white line that saw him cross paths, and in some instances cross swords, with some of the game’s biggest characters.
First up, perhaps unsurprisingly, is Best. During his heyday he counted the fellow son of east Belfast among his international team-mates.
And while most people may remember the breathtaking goals, the dribbles and the devil-may-care attitude, Neill was always taken aback by Best’s bravery on the field.
“Bestie was as brave as they come,” he said.
“We played a friendly against Uruguay at Windsor Park and their left full-back was obviously aware of who this George Best genius was, and he was a mad man.
“As captain, I went over to Bestie after about 20 minutes and said ‘George, switch flank, drop deep, come and play alongside me and get out of this mad man’s way’, but he refused. And he played this guy like a matador. He had to be taken off at half-time; he was tormented by Best.
“Bestie wouldn’t take the easy way out. He wanted to teach the guy a lesson, and he did.”
But what about when Neill and Best came face-to-face back in England’s top flight?
“Our two families came from the same part of east Belfast so I used to have a little chat in Bestie’s ear before Arsenal-Man U games and say ‘I don’t want to see you on this pitch at all – stay away from me otherwise I’ll ring your dad’.
“I used to verbally threaten Bestie, God bless him. He was a lovely lad. And he wouldn’t come near me. He went and tormented the other 10 players in our team and left me alone.”
Another prodigious talent from these isles, Martin O’Neill, first came to his attention during the early stages of his time as player-manager of Northern Ireland.
Neill handed the young Derry man his first cap for the North when he was still turning out for Distillery in the Irish League.
And recalls a day he had words with the current Republic of Ireland boss.
“A cheeky little brat he was. What you see is what you get with Martin - I love him dearly.
“I gave him his debut because he was a good player, he was still playing for Distillery here and I’d watched him a few times.
“He deserved to be in the squad, then it came to my attention that he was having a bit of a moan with some of the other players, whinging about why he wasn’t in the team. I pulled him aside and said Martin, what’s your role in the Northern Ireland set-up?
“He said ‘I’m a member of the squad?’ That’s right, I said, now what’s my title in the Northern Ireland set-up? ‘You’re the manager’.
“You’re right, I said. If you’ve got a complaint, come to me. Be straight with me. Don’t go and whinge to other players - come to me like a man.”
Following a short-lived stint in charge of Tottenham Hotspur, hated north London rivals of his beloved Arsenal, it wasn’t long before Neill was back at Highbury – becoming the club’s youngest-ever manager at only 34.
And despite counting a young Liam Brady among his number, as well as new signings Pat Jennings and Malcolm Macdonald, Neill extended his gaze further afield.
Much further afield.
The world was a bigger place in 1979, but the Arsenal boss had been keeping tabs on a remarkable young Argentine who was keen on a move to Europe; Diego Armando Maradona.
Earning rave reviews for his performances with Argentinos Juniors, Maradona was attracting admiring glances from all the big guns, and Neill was leading the charge in England.
However, like a later bid for French superstar Michel Platini, it just wasn’t to be.
“Diego was a brilliant player - strong, great to have him in your team, but when it came to the crunch he wanted to bring 200 of his family over and it just became too complicated.
“But at least I had a go. The first day I met him, he couldn’t read a watch. He was never on time for things.
“He was a loveable nutter, and he still is.”
Neill was eventually given the sack in 1983 in what would turn out to be his final managerial post.
Still an avid Gunner, he occasionally commentates on Arsenal matches for Arsenal TV. There has been little to smile about in recent years however, with the Europa League offering their only hope of silverware this year.
The future of boss Arsene Wenger continues to come under increased scrutiny and, while he has sympathy for the Frenchman, Neill believes the end could be in sight.
“It won’t be the worst thing in the world if he does get the sack at the end of the season.
“The trouble at the moment is a lack of management from the top – you’ve got an American owner [Stan Kroenke], he’s a multi-millionaire and I think I’ve seen him with a smile on his face once.
“The rest of the board are so indecisive that Arsene Wenger - quite rightly in my view - has been running the club from top to bottom, but it takes its toll. He’s only human, and he is tired, he is weary, and he needs a break, or some support.
“Some of it is self-inflicted because he is such a determined individual. They have a chance [in the Europa League].
“Having been at Arsenal Football Club most of my life, I’m an Arsenal man until I die, so fingers crossed.”
