Latest news with #StevenDavis
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Steven Davis makes top flight claim after successful club season for Northern Ireland players
Steven Davis says Northern Ireland will reap the rewards of the squad's success at club level. Conor Bradley lifted the Premier League with Liverpool while Justin Devenny was part of the Crystal Palace side that defeated Manchester City to win the FA Cup. They will be joined in the English top flight next season by Trai Hume and Daniel Ballard following Sunderland's Championship play-off victory and Davis believes that will only have a positive impact at international level. READ MORE: Keith Gillespie says Bangor should have one main objective on top flight return READ MORE: Gary Haveron makes his feelings known as Nathan Rooney returns as Larne manager "The more that get to a higher level can only be a good thing," said Davis. "You could be playing whoever at international level and the variation can be quite different depending on who you are going to play with the set-up and the quality you're coming up against. "The more experience you can get is better for you as a player in terms of your progression. "Thankfully we have another two players in the Premier League which is absolutely brilliant and I'm looking forward to seeing how they do next season." Davis, who won 140 caps for his country, feels the exposure the young players have got playing at international level has helped boost their club career. "Yeah again it's about exposure to good levels," he said. "Some have been given their opportunity at international level before they probably thought they would have because of the circumstances. "I think we have all seen they have that quality and potential within them. We've realised though that there's going to have to be a certain level of patience with that as well. "The exposure they have got has helped them at their clubs, but they're only with us for a short period so it's important that they keep progressing at their clubs as well. "The best thing about them is they have that mentality that they want to improve and be better, and they are an ambitious group as well. "There's no reason why they can't go and achieve something over these next number of years."
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Players' club successes can help NI careers
Northern Ireland first team coach Steven Davis says recent successes enjoyed by members of Michael O'Neill's squad at club level should help their progression in the international game.A number of players were part of crucial occasions for their teams in recent weeks ahead of Northern Ireland's forthcoming friendlies away to Denmark on 7 June and home to Iceland on 10 June."You just have to look at some of the individual seasons the players have had, obviously Conor [Bradley] winning the Premier League [with Liverpool], Justin Devenny winning the FA Cup [with Crystal Palace] and Trai Hume and Dan Ballard being promoted to the Premier League with Sunderland," said Davis in an interview with BBC Sport NI."It's vital that the players continue to progress at their clubs and that's what they're doing, they just have to continue to develop. "Ultimately they come in better placed into the international set-up if that's the case."The 140-times capped international reflected that there had been "a lot of progression within the group over the last 12 or 18 months" with a series of positive results and the team topping their Nations League upcoming friendly double-header will act as preparation for the start of World Cup qualifying in September."These games are vital because the time you get with the players is so limited in international football so whenever you do get together it's important you maximise that time, reinforce your ideas and add layers to them. "The level of opposition in the two games will test us too."We're coming up against stiff opposition [in World Cup qualifying] in Germany, Slovakia and Luxembourg, it's a difficult group but these two games coming up are great preparation for us." 'Seeing a different side of O'Neill' Davis says he is enjoying working under O'Neill as part of his backroom team."He's demanding, which he should be and you have to be. He's very detailed. I thought that as a player too. "Obviously you get to see a little bit of a different side as part of the coaching staff and we spend a lot of time together analysing things."He's very open to our opinions as coaching staff, which is great for me, you can give your opinions, and ultimately he makes the decisions."The former Rangers midfielder is currently working towards his Uefa Pro Licence qualification and explains that he harbours ambitions of being a manager one day."You only get it [coaching ability] by getting experience, by being in and around it. That's the best learning curve you can get - real life situations, and more time on the grass as well. That's how you develop."We'll see where it takes us. I do eventually have ambitions to be a manager but at this moment in time it's important I continue to learn."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
'Hard to envisage me not being back at Rangers'
Former Rangers midfielder Steven Davis says it is "hard to envisage himself not being back at the club in some capacity in the future" amid speculation linking him with a backroom role with the Scottish Premiership giants. The 140-times capped Northern Ireland international has been mooted as part of a potential coaching ticket should former title-winning manager Steven Gerrard return for a second spell in charge of the club. Gerrard has been one of a number of possible contenders linked with the vacancy at Rangers in recent weeks, although it is reported that Davide Ancelotti has held talks with the Ibrox club, with further discussions planned over the next few days. Davis had two spells at the club as player, making a total of 239 appearances. The 40-year-old was put in temporary control of first-team affairs following the departure of former manager Michael Beale in October 2023. He was caretaker boss for two games, a Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol and a league win over St Mirren, before Philippe Clement was appointed to the position on a permanent basis. "At this moment in time it's only rumours. I haven't heard anything else," said Davis of speculation linking him with a coaching role under a new Rangers boss. "Obviously the club are going through the process in terms of who they are going to appoint as manager. "If the opportunity comes up it's obviously a club that's obviously very close to my heart, so let's see what happens in the next few weeks." Davis, currently part of Michael O'Neill's backroom team with Northern Ireland, would welcome a return to the club he holds in great affection at some stage. "For me it's hard to envisage me not being back at the club in some capacity in the future whatever that may be, but you just don't know in football," he added in an interview with BBC Sport NI. "You can't sort of plan that, you just have to wait for the opportunities and then once you have a decision to make then you make the decision. "Ultimately I want Rangers to be successful, they had another difficult season, but hopefully they can get back to winning trophies next season." Visit our Rangers page for all the latest news, analysis and fan views Get Rangers news notifications in the BBC Sport app
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
'Hard to envisage me not being back at Rangers'
Former Rangers midfielder Steven Davis says it is "hard to envisage himself not being back at the club in some capacity in the future" amid speculation linking him with a backroom role with the Scottish Premiership 140-times capped Northern Ireland international has been mooted as part of a potential coaching ticket should former title-winning manager Steven Gerrard return for a second spell in charge of the has been one of a number of possible contenders linked with the vacancy at Rangers in recent weeks, although it is reported that Davide Ancelotti has held talks with the Ibrox club, with further discussions planned over the next few had two spells at the club as player, making a total of 239 40-year-old was put in temporary control of first-team affairs following the departure of former manager Michael Beale in October was caretaker boss for two games, a Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol and a league win over St Mirren, before Philippe Clement was appointed to the position on a permanent basis. "At this moment in time it's only rumours. I haven't heard anything else," said Davis of speculation linking him with a coaching role under a new Rangers boss. "Obviously the club are going through the process in terms of who they are going to appoint as manager."If the opportunity comes up it's obviously a club that's obviously very close to my heart, so let's see what happens in the next few weeks."Davis, currently part of Michael O'Neill's backroom team with Northern Ireland, would welcome a return to the club he holds in great affection at some stage."For me it's hard to envisage me not being back at the club in some capacity in the future whatever that may be, but you just don't know in football," he added in an interview with BBC Sport NI."You can't sort of plan that, you just have to wait for the opportunities and then once you have a decision to make then you make the decision."Ultimately I want Rangers to be successful, they had another difficult season, but hopefully they can get back to winning trophies next season."
BBC News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Davis would be 'an asset' to Rangers coaching team
David Healy, a former team-mate of Steven Davis with both Rangers and Northern Ireland, has said the former midfielder would be "an asset" if he were to become part of the backroom staff at the Scottish Premiership has been linked with a coaching role at Rangers should Steven Gerrard return for a second spell as is understood to be one of the leading contenders to take charge after Barry Ferguson's interim term in charge came to an was put in temporary control of first-team affairs following the departure of former manager Michael Beale in October 40-year-old was caretaker boss for two games, a Europa League defeat by Aris Limassol and a league win over St Mirren, before Philippe Clement was appointed to the position on a permanent a player, Davis made a total of 239 appearances for Rangers during two spells with the club."Steve has had the privilege and the honour of being in [at Rangers as a coach] for a little bit and I don't think it fazed him," said Northern Ireland's record men's international goalscorer Healy."I don't think anything ever fazed Steve as a player or as a person. He's pretty relaxed, he's pretty comfortable in his own tone and what he wants to say."If Rangers feel, when the new manager comes in, whoever he's going to be, feels there's an opportunity for Steve to go in. I think Steve would be an asset to have at Rangers, no matter who the manager is."Davis is currently part of Michael O'Neill's backroom set-up with Northern Ireland, for whom he won a record 140 caps."I know he's going through the process at the minute where he's going to do his coaching badges," said O'Neill."He's going through the process of learning and, for me, there is no better role model or apprenticeship than to be working with or in and around Michael O'Neill, who is an incredibly talented coach."
