Former Leicester City captain Steve Walsh pays the NI pair a huge compliment

Former Leicester City captain Steve Walsh has hailed Martin O’Neill as the “best manager” he played under during his 14-year spell with the Foxes. Walsh says former Northern Ireland international O’Neill has created an unshakable team spirit during his time at the helm.

O’Neill spent five years at Filbert Street between 1995 and 2000, helping the club to promotion to the Premier League and winning two League Cups which qualified them for the UEFA Cup.

When asked which former bosses stand out from his playing time, Walsh told Parimatch: “I have a lot of respect for Gordon Milne and Bryan Hamilton since I first joined the club and what they have done for me – we had a very close relationship. relationship with him and played an important role in my early development.

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“However, Martin O’Neill would have been the best in terms of the success we had under him. Understanding, unity and team spirit ran through him and the way he handled his players was incredible. We had the best time and the best era under him, without a doubt.”

Meanwhile, Walsh credits another man from Northern Ireland with helping to extend his career. He says Neil Lennon’s partnership with Muzzy Izzet has proved a force in front of the Leicester backline, taking some of the pressure off the defenders.

He added: “I would say Muzzy Izzet was the best player I played with in terms of ability without a shadow of a doubt. His tenacity and energy were incredible. People said my playing time was over at that point, but when the club signed him and Neil Lennon, I lasted another five years because they were playing in front of me!

“They were both intelligent players who could score any type of goal, but their work rate and fitness levels were phenomenal. They were a great pair and both big reasons why we were so successful during that time.”

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