Northern Ireland football legends Jonny Evans and Steven Davis will be honoured in Belfast on Tuesday 10 June.
The illustrious duo, two ‘Kings of Lyon’ from Northern Ireland’s memorable Euro 2016 campaign, will receive a specially commissioned artwork presentation at Windsor Park next week, when Michael O’Neill’s men take on Iceland.
Jonny Evans and Steven Davis have been pivotal key figures for the Green and White Army for the last two decades, but now the curtain falls on their football careers, overall.
The Manchester United stalwart bowed out from club duty during the Old Trafford club’s controversial post-season tour of Asia. The 37-year-old from County Antrim played the first half as United beat Hong Kong 3-1, last Friday (30 May).
Evans emerged through the Manchester United academy and had loan spells at Royal Antwerp and Sunderland before making his debut under Sir Alex Ferguson in September 2007.
He would go on to make a total of 198 appearances for the Red Devils, picking up three Premier League titles and a Champions League medal along the way.
An eight-year sojourn away from Old Trafford took him to West Bromwich Albion and Leicester City – where he picked up an elusive FA Cup medal – before he secured a fairytale return to his boyhood club, in the twilight of his career.
Evans was an important figure in United’s 2023/24 FA Cup triumph over Manchester City, and despite the ongoing instability at the club, he can leave with his head and reputation held up high.
At our next home international against Iceland on Tuesday 10 June, two legends will be honoured 👏🏻
Steven Davis and Jonny Evans will be presented with specially commissioned artwork to recognise their incredible international careers 💚🤍 #GAWA pic.twitter.com/XBoBzGnwO3
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) June 4, 2025
Two names synonymous with Northern Ireland success over the last two decades
As for his fellow Antrim man, Steven Davis, injury robbed the mercurial midfielder of a goodbye on the pitch as a training ground incident in December 2022 at Rangers proved to be the end of an illustrious career for the former Aston Villa, Fulham, and Southampton player.
He enjoyed two spells at Ibrox, either side of a seven-year hiatus at St. Mary’s, contributing significantly to four Scottish League titles and three Scottish Cups and League Cups, respectively.
The Cullybackey man was also a crucial figure for Walter Smith and Giovanni van Bronckhorst on the European stage, in the runs to the final of the UEFA Cup / Europa League in 2008 and 2022.
Davis captained Northern Ireland 82 times, in an international career blessed with longevity, and he holds the UK men’s international caps record with 140 appearances.
His friend and former colleague, Evans, pulled on the shirt 107 times, with the pair finding themselves in esteemed company beside Pat Jennings and Aaron Hughes as a select band of four players to make 100 appearances for Northern Ireland.
Current head coach Michael O’Neill said: “Jonny Evans and Steven Davis are the two names synonymous with the success of the national team over the last two decades.”
“Their professionalism, leadership and love of playing for Northern Ireland have always set the standard. It’s only fitting that their contributions are honoured in such a personal and lasting way.”
The fans will relish the opportunity to salute their heroes at the Iceland game, when the duo will receive bespoke portraits created by Northern Irish artist Marie-Clare Allsopp, a creative known for her ‘expressive and emotive style’.
Image credit: ManUtd/X