Legendary Northern Ireland manager Billy Bingham dies aged 90
He was the most successful manager in Northern Ireland's history
Last updated 10th Jun 2022
Former Northern Ireland manager, Billy Bingham, has died at the age of 90.
Billy Bingham was the most successful manager the Green and White Army ever had, after guiding them to the 1986 World Cup and were the last nation to win the British Championship in 1984.
At club level he managed Everton and the Greek national team and played for Northern Ireland at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.
Reacting to the news of his passing on Downtown Radio & Cool FM, former Northern Ireland star player Gerry Armstrong, said he was a "top man."
"I was best man at his wedding, he was like a father figure to me," Gerry said.
"He looked after us all so well, through that period in the 80s, during that six years.
"We were just playing the best football ever, God love him."
Gerry said it's hard to put in to words what Billy did for Northern Ireland.
"Billy was a clever clever man," he said.
"It's hard to take this in as well.
"His memories will never be forgotten."
In a statement the IFA said: "It is with great sadness that the Irish FA has learned of the passing of its esteemed former player and manager Billy Bingham at the age of 90.
Billy holds a unique place in the football hearts of Northern Ireland in that he both played at and managed in World Cup final tournaments with Northern Ireland, being part of Peter Doherty’s historic team of 1958 in Sweden and then managing Northern Ireland in the 1982 and 1986 finals."
After leaving management, Bingham became Blackpool's director of football in the 1990s and then, took on his last role in football at Burnley as a scout in 2008.