Tipperary football boss John Evans has paid a glowing tribute to Mike Frank Russell, who has opted off the Kerry football panel after a success-laden 12 years. "He was the real baby-faced assassin in his day," said Evans, who managed Russell's club Laune Rangers to an All-Ireland club title in 1996. "It was obvious from an early age, not alone by his talent but by his dedication and approach. It was normal for him to take a few balls and go back to the field after everyone had left. He was a pure footballer. "He was a sub in that club final (against Eire Og of Carlow). There were five minors that had won the county championship that year and I brought them into the panle and they were all subs. "The following year, he was corner forward on the team that won the championship." Russell is one of the most decorated players in the GAA and can county five All-Ireland senior medals among his honours' haul. "He'd want a small wheelbarrow to carry around the medals he has. I can't even think of anybody who'd come close to his success," Evans added. And the Killorglin native isn't ruling out the possibility of Russell returning to the Kingdom fold in the near future. "He keeps himself extraordinarily well," he added. "I remember watching Peter Canavan playing in Tralee, Seamus Moynihan gave him a roasting and everyone said he was finished, but he came back with a vengeance. "You don't write special players off, they can do the unexpected." Tweet

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