Steven Davis: David Healy says retired NI captain was a 'humble and classy' team-mate
- Published
Northern Ireland men's record goalscorer David Healy has described former team-mate Steven Davis as a "humble and classy" man.
Healy paid tribute to Davis' career after the Northern Ireland captain announced his retirement on Thursday.
Healy and Davis played together at Fulham and Rangers as well as being international team-mates for eight years.
"Steven was a first-class player," Linfield manager Healy told the BBC.
"[He was] humble and classy. He had all the attributes to be a top-class player and he went on and proved that, winning 140 caps for Northern Ireland.
"He was hugely popular in any dressing room I was in with him, at Fulham, Rangers and Northern Ireland.
"Probably the only disappointing thing for Steven is that he didn't get one last big hurrah at Windsor, but I am sure he will get that anyway and rightly so.
Davis' last game for Northern Ireland was a 3-1 defeat by Greece in Athens in September 2022
"I used to see Richard [Davis' brother] at so many of the Northern Ireland games with his family. He had a huge support network around him at the time and that has been crucial to everything that Steven did."
Davis played the delicate, lofted pass that set Healy up for the goal that saw Northern Ireland beat England 1-0 at Windsor Park in September 2005, one of the most famous goals and results in the country's history.
Having made his debut in a friendly against Canada a year earlier, the England win was the occasion when Davis fully announced his arrival on the international scene.
He went on to captain his country 82 times across 140 appearances and, while known for his quiet nature, Healy said Davis could be hard with players when he needed to be.
"He was quiet in his demeanour," continued Healy, who scored 36 international goals before retiring in 2013.
"I am sure Michael [O'Neill, Northern Ireland manager] would know that when he needed to dig somebody out, he did, but it was very rare. More importantly, Steven led by example with his authority and his performances."
Davis could still play a role for NI - O'Neill
Michael O'Neill has praised Steven Davis' contribution to Northern Ireland
Current Northern Ireland boss Michael O'Neill made Davis his captain when he was first appointed as international manager at the end of 2011.
Having left in 2020 and then returned to the role in December 2022, O'Neill stated at his unveiling that the midfielder would remain as his skipper, but just a few days later Davis sustained the knee injury in training with Rangers that ultimately ended his career.
However, while revealing he has known for a while that the decision was coming, and that the pair had dinner together on Tuesday evening, O'Neill said Davis could still have a role to play for his country.
"Of course," O'Neill said when asked if the door would be open for Davis to join up with his NI squad.
"I think the like of these players who have had that length of career can only add something.
"For Steven to be sitting having a coffee with someone like Shea Charles or Isaac Price can only help a player like that in their development."
O'Neill spoke very fondly of Davis as a player and captain, saying that he knew from seeing him making his debut in 2005 that he was going to be a special player.
"I have a great relationship with Steven and that has developed over the years. He was just one of those players, it was an easy decision for me to give him the captaincy.
"I think it was the right time for him and the fact he was captain 82 times is an indication of what time of person and what type of player he was."
On Davis' decision to retire at 39 due to injury, O'Neill added: "I think it's difficult. I watched the footage of him going in to Rangers and I think he knew that was going to be quite difficult for him.
"I think he spoke very well, it was an emotional day for him but over the past few weeks we have spoken on many an occasion and he realised time was against him.
"He felt like this was the right time to make this decision and look at what is beyond for him, whether that be in football or out of football.
"Steven will do extremely well in whatever path he chooses next. It is just sad that we didn't get that last opportunity to see him play for Northern Ireland one more time."