By Stephen Looney.
He's a former fans favourite at Seaview whose Crusaders U20s team are runaway leaders of the Premiership Development league, but Davy Rainey insists he never saw himself as a manager.
The 46-year-old won seven trophies in his eight seasons with Crusaders (2005-2013), including the Irish, League and Setanta Cups, and remains the fifth highest goalscorer in the club's history with 139 goals in 320 games.
He dropped into the Intermediate League to help Stephen Baxter grow the club again by helping youngsters like Colin Coates, Stevie McBride, Davy Magowan, Chris Morrow, Jordan Owens and Declan Caddell blossom with Crusaders.
17 years after leaving Seaview, Davy returned to the club when Stephen asked him to succeed Alan Crooks in managing the Crues U20s team.
The offer was a bolt out of the blue for the former striker, who also played for Ballyclare Comrades, Glentoran, Ards, Glenavon and H & W Welders.
But such is Davy's love for the Crues that Stephen's offer was simply too good to refuse, and it seems to be a match made in heaven for the U20s lead Linfield Swifts by 15 points after beating Newry City Reserves 3-0 in Kilkeel on Monday night.
“I had no idea Stephen was going to ring me last summer, and when I left Seaview as a player I couldn't have imagined returning as a manager”, said Davy.
“Did I want to return? 100%. I think people around Seaview know how much this club means to me so it was an honour and a privilege to come back and I'm really enjoying it.
“I never pictured myself as a manager. I only started thinking about what I was going to do when I stopped playing in my latter years with the Welders.
“I helped Norman Kelly out for a brief spell and surprisingly I enjoyed it. I thought I might enjoying coaching but not managing.
“I went up to Albert Foundry to be John McGrath's assistant and when he left the committee asked me to take the job on – which I did reluctantly.
“I then went to Queens to help my friend Stephen McDowell but Covid messed things up so when the Boss rang me last year it was too good to refuse.
“The U20s age group is really good to work with. Their attitude and commitment is absolutely top drawer because they will listen.
“I want hungry players, and I watch them in and around the club; who turns up on time, what their body language is, who is eager, who has the team ethic.
“Thankfully we have hungry players who have ability as well, that's the perfect combination and we have seen players like Jay Boyd (20), Corrie Burns (19), Conor Rafferty (20), Sam Morrow (20) and Conor Quinn (20) called up to the first team squad.
“Lewis Barr went up last year and has played a number of times for the first team and that is what we want at the club.
“My job is to develop players and that takes priority over winning leagues. I will rotate my squad, even if the team is winning, to give players opportunities – how can I develop players if I don't play them?
“I get pleasure from developing our young players, and I get a buzz if and when I see the Boss calling one or two up to his squad.
“Nothing beats the feeling of playing football but I get great satisfaction from my role at the club, working with good young players and hopefully developing and improving them.
“I don't need to put my foot down or lay down the law with my players because they are really good, they have the right attitude.
“The only aspect of managing U20s that really hurts me sometimes is having to leave players out of teams and squads, that's difficult.
“It's different with the senior pros, they have been around the game and understand the need for rotation or resting players.
“But young players, and especially our young players here at Seaview, just want to play football and they want to play every minute of every game, which is impossible in a development squad.
“Thankfully we have a good bunch, and we have enough firepower and ability that I don't depend on Stephen sending me one or two of the younger players like Jay or Lewis.
“They are all quality players and a joy to watch at times.”
And now that he is thrown himself into the treacherous waters of football management, who has he learned from in a distinguished playing career that spanned an incredible 23 years?
“I've had a few managers in my time in the game!” smiled Davy. “Obviously Stephen is the main man and I had eight great years with him.
“He is certainly one of the best, if not the best, because of his man management. He knew when to put an arm around you, when to give you a rollicking, he always knew how to get the best out of you and I learned a lot from him.
“I played under Roy Coyle and he was the opposite in terms of man management, aloof and stern, but he brought success wherever he went.
“Both are great and successful managers, so probably a mixture of the two is the management model I would like to aspire to.”