By David Gold
December 28 – Michael O’Neill has been confirmed as the new Northern Ireland manager following his heroics with Shamrock Rovers this season.
O’Neill led Shamrock into the Europa League for the first time in their history, where they competed amongst the Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur and the former Russian champions Rubin Kazan in the group stage before being knocked out.
A memorable qualifying round victory over Partizan Belgrade took the team into the group stage and O’Neill now replaces Nigel Worthington, who quit after Northern ireland missed out on Euro 2012 qualification.
Northern Ireland came fifth behind Slovenia, Serbia, Estonia and Italy, leading to Worthington’s resignation.
O’Neill beat the likes of Jim Magilton and Iain Dowie to the post and the Northern Ireland Football Association chief executive, Patrick Nelson, said: “Michael was the standout choice from an excellent field.
“The selection panel was very impressed with his thoughts and plans for football in Northern Ireland over the coming years.”
The 42-year-old O’Neill, who won 31 caps for Northern Ireland during a career that included spells at Newcastle United, Coventry City and Wigan Athletic, had begun his managerial career at Scottish League club Brechin City only five years ago.
“I am honoured to be chosen to manage my country,” he said.
“I am a proud Northern Irishman and it was always an ambition to manage my country.
“To be entrusted with the role early in my managerial career is quite humbling but I am confident that we can make progress.
“Northern Ireland has a strong football tradition but one that needs to be refreshed.”
But O’Neill acknowledged the size of his task.
“My primary objective [is] to restore a sense of belief and pride in what it means to represent Northern Ireland so that our players will want only to play for their country,” he said, referring to the trend in recent times for players such as Manchester United’s Darron Gibson (pictured) to opt to play for the Republic of Ireland.
With a number of youngsters following his path, Northern Ireland are hoping to arrest the trend in a bid to help them qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Next summer the country will begin their qualifying group for the 2014 Brazil World Cup.
They have been handed one of the hardest tasks as they find themselves up against Portugal, Russia, Israel, Azerbaijan and Luxembourg.
Before then O’Neill will start with friendlies against Norway, Netherlands and Finland.
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