Michael O’Neill returns for a second stint as Northern Ireland boss – just two-and-a-half years after leaving for Stoke – as he signs deal to run until Euro 2028
- Michael O’Neill has been reappointed as manager on a five-and-a-half year deal
- O’Neill had been manager at Stoke City before he was sacked in August this year
- The 53-year-old is succeeding Ian Baraclough and will lead them to Euro 2024
Michael O’Neill has returned for a second stint as Northern Ireland boss after signing a five-and-half deal which will run until Euro 2028.
The manager’s return will bring back sweet memories for Northern Ireland fans who will recall their successful Euro 2016 campaign where O’Neill led them to the last-16 – 30 years on from when they had last qualified for a major tournament.
There had been much speculation over the return of O’Neill, who had most recently been managing Stoke City before he was sacked in August.
The 53-year-old will lead Northern Ireland during their Euro 2024 campaign, succeeding Ian Baraclough who was relieved of his duties on October 21.
Northern Ireland have re-appointed Michael O’Neill as manager on a five-and-a-half year contract
Speaking after his reappointment, O’Neill said: ‘I am delighted to be the Northern Ireland senior men’s manager.
‘I am excited to see what can be achieved with this group of players and can’t wait to be in front of the Green and White Army at the National Stadium once again.’
O’Neill revitalised the Green and White Army between 2012 and 2020, inheriting a team that had won two of their last 24 matches but going on to win 36 per cent of his 72 games in charge – the best winning percentage of any Northern Ireland boss since the great Billy Bingham’s first spell ended in 1971.
Northern Ireland announced the return of O’Neill who will lead the nation at Euro 2024
The run to the last-16 of the Euros six years ago was the obvious highlight, but Northern Ireland also reached the qualifying play-offs for the 2018 World Cup – denied by a controversial penalty against Switzerland.
They also pushed Germany and the Netherlands in a brutal group in Euro 2020 qualifying.
That prompted Stoke to come calling in November 2019 where O’Neill initially combined duties as he hoped to finish the job of reaching the Euros via the play-offs.
Butt once the pandemic led to the postponement of those games, O’Neill made way for Ian Baraclough to step up from the under-21s in April 2020.
O’Neill averted the threat of relegation to League One at Stoke but could not get them into the promotion fight as the club struggled to recruit, and he was sacked in August.
With Northern Ireland also struggling under Baraclough – who lost 14 of his 28 games in charge and narrowly averted back-to-back relegations in the Nations League – the stars aligned for O’Neill’s return when Baraclough was dismissed in October.
O’Neill was most recently manager at Stoke City – a club he initially left Northern Ireland for
O’Neill led Northern Ireland to the last-16 of Euro 2016. Pictured: O’Neill celebrates with players during their 2-0 win over Ukraine in the group stages
O’Neill must persuade veteran stars including captain Steven Davis, 37, and Jonny Evans, 34, to stay on for one more campaign, but a favourable draw in Euro 2024 qualifying – against Denmark, Finland, Slovenia, Kazakhstan and San Marino – will give the opportunity for him to make an immediate impact.
Speaking on O’Neill’s appointment, Irish FA President Conrad Kirkwood said: ‘I believe Michael is the right man for the job. He comes to the role this time with the benefit of even more experience at both international and domestic level, which will have only added to his skill set and experience.
‘With a positive Euro 2024 qualifying draw I have no doubt the Green and White Army will get behind him and his team.’
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