Gerry Armstrong has praised legendary former Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham for engendering a “band of brothers” spirit in his famous teams of the early-1980s.
The former Spurs striker also believes Bingham, who passed away on Friday at the age of 90, will be remembered as his country’s “greatest ever manager”.
Bingham, who was diagnosed with dementia in 2006, managed Northern Ireland at both the 1982 and 1986 World Cups in Spain and Mexico respectively.
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Armstrong wrote his name into folklore at the 1982 finals, scoring three goals in five games, including an iconic winner in a shock 1-0 victory over the Spanish in Valencia.
“We were a band of brothers and that was down to Billy,” said Gerry, who was also voted Britain’s greatest player at the tournament.
“He was a clever manager but he also knew how to fire us up. He would say very simple but effective things before games like ‘this is our moment’. He made us believe in ourselves.
“Looking back, he worked wonders during his time in charge and he was Northern Ireland’s greatest ever manager. I can’t pay him a higher tribute than that.
“Not only did he lead us to two World Cups, he won two British Championships and also went close to qualifying for the 1984 European Championships at the expense of West Germany.
“He achieved so much in a short space of time.”
Armstrong had played as a striker in 1982 World Cup qualifying but the emergence of Manchester United teenage sensation Norman Whiteside forced a tactical rethink.
Whiteside had played only two games for his club but impressed in training and was handed his international debut in a scoreless draw with Yugoslavia in the opening group game in Zaragoza.
At only 17 years and 41 days old, 'Big Norm' became the youngest player to feature at a World Cup, a record he still holds today.
“Billy decided to give Norman his debut, moved me to the right side of midfield and it turned out to be a mast stroke,” said Armstrong.
“I suddenly had a bit more freedom, was able to run from deep and do a lot of damage down the right hand side. I scored three goals in five matches, including the winner against Spain.
“That was down to Billy. He put me in a position that suited me and where I could run all day. He also brought John McClelland in for John O’Neill because of his pace.
“He was meticulous in his tactics and how he set us up. He turned us into a unit, made us really difficult to beat and also had an eye for weaknesses in the opposition.”
Gerry’s gregarious and inquisitive nature endeared him to Bingham and over time the former Watford and Real Mallorca player became a link between manager and squad.
“I got to know Billy personally because I talked to him a lot,” said Armstrong. “Players would come to me with issues to take to him.
“The captain or players would say ‘go and have a word with him’. We were maybe training too hard or doing this or doing that.
“I’d go and speak to Billy and he’d say ‘what do you think?’ and I’d tell him what I thought. To be fair, he would take it on board and we'd move on.”
Armstrong, who would go on to be best man at Bingham’s wedding to ex-wife Rebecca, was heartbroken to witness the effects of dementia on his former boss in recent years.
“It was heart breaking for me,” he said. “He was a dear friend and a great manager and I’m really saddened by his passing.”
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