Former Northern Ireland boss Lawrie Sanchez has paid tribute to “special” Rangers star Steven Davis as he approaches a British cap record.
Ulster midfielder Davo has played 117 times for his country and is only eight caps away from matching the 125-cap record set by legendary English goalkeeper Peter Shilton.
As Northern Ireland prepare for a double-header against Romania and Norway, the man who gave Davis his first ever cap pays tribute to a British footballing legend.
“He’s always been what managers call a nine out of ten. You just know what you are getting as he is so consistent. Even now he is the same,” said Sanchez [Scottish Sun].
“He doesn’t carry any baggage and is the ultimate professional. One of the best around.
“If you speak to any player who has played with him, they will tell you how good he is.
“He deserves all the accolades. You don’t get to where he has without being a brilliant player, but also having a quiet determination.
“Some captains rant and rave while others lead by what they do on and off the pitch. Steven is one of the best examples of this.”
It’s been a stunning Northern Ireland career so far for Steven Davis, who first captained his country as a 21-year-old in 2006.
The Ulster Xavi has gone on to captain his country at Euro 2016 and has always been an option for the Norn Iron side through good and bad.
Sanchez recalls handing a young Davis his first cap and suggests even then, there was a quiet yet commanding confidence and leadership about the midfielder.
“His first involvement with the senior side was actually in Azerbaijan when I took him and Chris Brunt, two young kids at the time, along and they sat on the bench,” said Sanchez.
“What we saw in training that week from the pair of them filled me with a lot of hope.
“There was something about Steven that made him stand out.
“He made his debut at home to Canada, but what really made him was the following summer when we went on a tour to the United States.
“I could see on that trip, through his interaction with the other players, how the whole squad already looked up to him.
“He was only 21, but we had a few guys missing so I decided to make him captain for the game against Uruguay in the Giants Stadium.
“We also played Romania in Chicago and he led by example in both games and has been pretty much doing that for Northern Ireland ever since.
“Of course, I couldn’t predict he would be sitting on 117 caps but I did realise he was something special.”
Steven Davis, now 35, is in his second spell at Rangers after a trophy-laden first spell at the club between 208 and 2012 where he also captained the Gers.
The midfielder returned to Ibrox in January 2019 and remains a vital part of Steven Gerrard’s squad.
