Michael O’Neill extends stay as Northern Ireland manager with new four-year deal | OneFootball

Michael O’Neill has signed a new four-year contract to extend his stay as Northern Ireland boss just two weeks after turning down an offer from Blackburn Rovers.

O’Neill, 56, finished the season juggling dual roles with Northern Ireland and Blackburn and entered talks with the Championship club over extending his stay at Ewood Park after guiding them to safety.

But having turned down Rovers to stay in international football O’Neill has finalized a deal with the Irish FA that runs until 2032.

“This is a role that means a great deal to me,” O’Neill said.

“I continue to believe strongly in the potential of this group of players and the direction we are moving in. There is a lot of work ahead, but I am excited by the future.”

O’Neill is in his second spell as Northern Ireland boss, with a friendly draw against Wales in March his 104th match in charge.

The highlight of his tenure was leading the nation into Euro 2016, and there are now genuine hopes that a young, talented squad is capable of returning to a major tournament at the Euros in two years’ time.

O’Neill’s commitment will be welcomed by the Irish FA, who had feared losing him for a second time when he accepted the role with Blackburn in February – an announcement that stunned many Northern Ireland fans as it came just a few weeks before their World Cup qualifying play-off away to Italy.

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Michael O’Neill finished the season juggling international duties with managing Blackburn (Peter Tarry/PA) (PA Wire)

O’Neill, first appointed as Northern Ireland boss in 2011, left for Stoke in early 2020, but returned to the role in 2022.

Announcing his new deal, IFA president Conrad Kirkwood said: “Michael has made a massive contribution to Northern Ireland so far. I am delighted that he will continue that work into the future and I look forward to more memorable achievements for the team in the future.”

News of the deal was announced on the day that O’Neill is due to name his squad for next month’s friends, with Northern Ireland due to face Guinea in Cadiz, Spain, before traveling to Lille to take on World Cup-bound France.