George Best remains an inspiration to Northern Ireland’s next generation

Almost half of Michael O’Neill’s most recent squad were no more than five when Best died at the age of just 59 on November 25, 2005.

It is nearly 50 years since the Belfast-born genius last pulled on the green and white, but Best’s enduring influence remains.

“His legacy is absolutely massive,” Northern Ireland and Exeter forward Josh Magennis told the PA news agency. “You talk about the best players in the world in terms of Peles and so on, and George Best is always in that conversation.”

Magennis, 35, remembers being surrounded by the iconography of Best as he grew up on the Bloomfield estate in Bangor.

Best never graced a major international tournament and the fact he only made 37 appearances for Northern Ireland, scoring nine goals, seems remarkable given his singular talent.

But as Northern Ireland retain hope of qualifying for a first World Cup appearance since 1986 via the play-offs, Magennis said Best remains a regular topic of conversation amongst players during camps.

“The boys are always asking me about playing with the likes of Jonny (Evans), and then we watch the clips of George Best and the boys are in pure awe,” he said.

“For his legacy and what he’s managed to do for Northern Ireland, being able to say one of the best players to ever play the game comes from your country is a big statement and he’s surely one of those.”

Speak to players in this squad who were still in nappies when Best died and their eyes nevertheless light up at the mention of his name.

Jamie Donley was just 10 months old when Best passed, but was nevertheless raised on a diet of highlight videos.

When Windsor Park’s big screens were filled with a Best tribute before this month’s World Cup qualifier against Luxembourg – the night when Donley’s first international goal secured a 1-0 win – the Antrim-born forward was taken back to his childhood.

“My dad being a massive football fan, he always used to show me videos of him when I was a lot younger,” Donley said. “Now you realise how special of a player he was and everyone looks up to him.

“Him being up on the big screen brought back memories.”

O’Neill himself was just a boy when Best made his final Northern Ireland appearance in a 1-0 defeat to the Netherlands at Windsor Park on October 12, 1977.

But his assistant manager Jimmy Nicholl was a young defender in Danny Blanchflower’s side as Best’s international career was coming to an end and played alongside him against Johann Cruyff et al in Best’s last Northern Ireland game.

Those experiences are something O’Neill still feeds on.

“I think there are certain players that last through all ages,” the Northern Ireland manager said. “Everyone, whether they heard about George Best from their grandfathers or whoever it was, it’ll be passed down.

“For my generation, you always look back, and me and Jimmy are always talking about stuff like that. He’s a generation or two before me as I keep telling them! But I think we all know what George Best means to everyone in Northern Ireland.”