Northern Ireland vs Switzerland (21/03/2025)

Andy Greeves invites former Northern Ireland internationals to choose their best 11. The line-up can include players past and present and not necessarily former team-mates. Here Sammy Nelson chooses his squad… SAMMY NELSON’S BEST XI

GK – PAT JENNINGS Pat was a supreme goalkeeper. He was also one of the most unaffected footballers I ever met. By that I mean he never spoke about his career achievements or the fantastic saves he made. He was so modest and a proper gentleman. LB – MAL DONAGHY Mal had pace and he was good on the ball. He was very good in the air, too. I believe he played at centre back for a period of his career. He was a great worker and an unassuming character… he just got on with his job. CB – ALLAN HUNTER There are other players from my time in the national team I could have included at centre back, like Terry Neill and Chris Nicholl, who were fantastic. But Allan Hunter and Liam O’Kane arrived on the scene internationally around the same time and I thought they were a fantastic pairing. CB – LIAM O’KANE Hunter and O’Kane dovetailed really well in central defence. The big shame for Liam was his injuries. I believe he retired at the age of 28. No forward line we came up against ever liked playing against Allan and Liam. RB – PAT RICE I have to go for my good friend Pat Rice at right back. He was so intense in his preparation for matches. He put so much into every training session. In matches his determination to win every ball was incredible. LM – GEORGE BEST George obviously has to be in my team. I’m going to play him on the left wing, so I can play with two out and-out frontmen. What can you say about George? He was truly amazing. His ability on the ball is as good as we’ve seen in the history of the game. What I don’t think is said enough about George is what a brilliant team player he was.

CM – MARTIN O’NEILL Martin had a great awareness on the pitch – a real intelligence. He thought deeply about the game and how you would approach certain situations, opposition etc. He also had a real enthusiasm for the game and gave his all for the full 90 minutes. CM – SAMMY McILROY Sammy was a very gifted player and midfielder with a real attacking instinct. He obviously spent a period of his career as an attacker before moving back into midfield. He had very good control and pace. He was always in the mix for scoring goals or creating them. RM – GERRY ARMSTRONG Gerry was such a powerful player. His ability to go past full-backs and get crosses in – or to meet crosses coming from the left – really was something. He was a player always likely to have an involvement in a goal, whether that was creating it or scoring it. FW – DEREK DOUGAN Derek Dougan did extremely well for us. He was top notch. He had a great club career with Wolves especially and a brilliant international career, too. FW – CHARLIE GEORGE Charlie was exceptional. He was very aware that he was talented and he was never fazed coming up against any opponent in the First Division even if they were more experienced than him. He was a crowd pleaser, particularly at Highbury. The Arsenal fans loved him… they still do! SUBSTITUTES BOB WILSON – A fearless goalkeeper. Incredible. JIMMY NICHOLSON – Jimmy was a really good central midfielder for Northern Ireland. FRANK McLINTOCK – An immense defender and captain. WILLIE IRVINE – Willie was a natural goalscorer. RAY KENNEDY – A key member of Arsenal’s double winning team of 1971.

IRISHFA.COM

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