Former Newcastle United star secures return to international managerial role

Former Newcastle United star Michael O’Neill has been appointed as Northern Ireland manage for the second time in his career.

The 53-year-old joined the Magpies from Coleraine in October 1987 and showed plenty of promise as he scored 13 goals in 22 appearances featuring alongside the likes of Paul Gascoigne, Paul Goddard and Mirandinha in a United side that ended the season in eighth place in the old First Division (now Premier League).

His second season on Tyneside was disrupted by injury as the Magpies endured a miserable campaign that saw their five-season stay in the top flight ended as they claimed just 31 points in 38 games to finish bottom of the table. O’Neill departed in a £350,000 deal as he joined Dundee United just months later, before going on to play for the likes of Hibernian, Coventry City and Glentoran before wrapping up his playing career with a short spell at Ayr United.

After earning his managerial stripes with Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers, O’Neill was appointed as Northern Ireland manager in December 2011 and he slowed built a side that secured a historic qualification for the finals of Euro 2016. O’Neill led his side to the first knockout round, where they were beaten by Wales, but the foundations for a brighter future seemed to be in place.

After a near three-year reign at Championship club Stoke City was ended earlier this year, O’Neill has now returned to his previous role with Northern Ireland after they parted company with former manager Ian Baraclough in October. Speaking at a press conference following the announcement of his appointment he said: “I hoped I’d be back. Look at Louis van Gaal - he’s been Dutch boss three times so maybe I’ll leave and come back again. I think when you’ve done this job, it’s feasible to return. It’s not like returning to a club.

“I thought I’d be in club football a bit longer but I wanted the opportunity to build something again so when the opportunity arose it was my preference as opposed to staying in the club game. I only attended one game while I was away. I wanted Ian to have his time and not be intrusive. I’ve looked at the games. I felt the defeats were narrow - it was a difficult time to be a manager during Covid and possibly even more difficult to be an international manager. I haven’t watched the games closely enough to make a tactical assessment, but there’s still a good team in that squad.”

O’Neill will oversee the first game of his second spell in charge of Northern Ireland when they visit San Marino in the opening game of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in March.