Glentoran boss Warren Feeney has paid tribute to retiring Northern Ireland legend Steven Davis and said there “plenty of stories to come” about his former teammate when Feeney writes his memoirs.
Davis left the footballing stage after earning a UK-wide International caps record of 140, that will be difficult to surpass and the Glens manager believes he will live long in the memory of Northern Ireland greats.
“He epitomises Northern Ireland and his caps record says it all.” said Feeney.
“He’s a very humble boy and a fantastic player. He has a great family and you know what, it was more of a celebration for me when I heard it rather than a sadness. Because he has given everything for his clubs and for his country and I wish him all the best for the future.
“I think he will definitely be staying in the game because it’s characters like him that are needed and I invited him around to the Oval anytime he’s home because he’s a great, great person.”
Not only was it the caps total that made Davis stand toe-to-toe with the best in the game, but it was the influential impact he had on the international team, during the heydays of the 2000s and 2010s when they punched well above their weight, seeing off England at Windsor Park in 2005 and making the Euro 2016 finals in France. Feeney has no doubt that the Cullybackey native is now up there with the best in the game.
“100 per cent he is up there with the best from the country (with Jennings and Best).” He said
“What is impressive for the people who know him is he is not a flash person, he respects everyone and is just a boy off the street.
“I’ll never forget the night he put the ball over the top for David (Healy) against England, but also the trips away to Slovenia and Latvia which I remember.
“We had a great team at that time, reaching the top 25 in the world rankings, and he was very much part of that.”
Sources close to the IFA suggest that Michael O’Neill has already approached Davis about a role in his coaching staff, so does Feeney believe that Davis has a part to play in the international setup?
“He’s very respectable and look what he’s done in the game so why not?
“I’m not one to say “experience this, or experience that”, these guys need to start somewhere so I’m sure the international setup or Rangers will be keeping a close eye on him going forward.”