3 Michael O’Neill replacements Blackburn Rovers must consider after future reveal | OneFootball

Michael O'Neill has stated that he'll be returning to the Northern Ireland fold full-time at the end of this season

Michael O'Neill revealed after Northern Ireland's defeat against Italy in the World Cup qualifying play-off semi-finals that he'd be returning to his full-time duties as the Green and White Army manager at the end of the season.

O'Neill was unvailed as Blackburn Rovers' boss on a contract until the end of the season in February, replacing Valerien Ismael, and it was stated that he would juggle both domestic and international roles between now and then.

Many Rovers fans were hopeful that, once the summer was over and the World Cup had passed, the 56-year-old would make a full transition back to club management at Ewood Park, but that doesn't seem to be the case.

"I will manage the remaining seven games for Blackburn, but my contract is still with the Irish FA. I'm contracted to 2028 and after Blackburn, I will revert back to the status quo, which is the national team manager," he said following Northern Ireland's defeat to Italy.

This is the most indication he has given about his future, so it seems that Rovers will once again be looking at the managerial market this coming summer, and here are three names that should be on their shortlist.

Gary Rowett

With O'Neill set to leave at the end of his short-term contract at the end of the season, perhaps Blackburn should be looking to replace him with someone who may also be departing his current club at the end of his contract.

Gary Rowett was brought in to Leicester City just five days after O'Neill was revealed as Blackburn's new manager, on a similar short-term deal and with the exact same remit: keep the side away from relegation into League One.

The Northern Ireland boss has done a better job thus far than Rowett, who has just one win to his name in the seven games he has managed at the King Power Stadium-based club, meaning relegation is a little more probable there than it is at Ewood Park currently.

With the recent history surrounding Leicester, someone like Rowett, who is seen as someone who can lift perhaps weaker squads to exceed expectations, being their manager for the long-term doesn't seem like the best fit.

Hence, the 52-year-old himself has stated that he wouldn't mind walking off into the sunset at the end of the season, and if he does, Blackburn need to be ready.

Rovers will likely be amongst the weaker sides in the Championship once more next season, and staying up could be an even bigger struggle. So, to have someone with the skillset that Rowett has at the helm would provide a good chance to remain in the division.

Marti Cifuentes

From the current Leicester manager to the one he replaced, it's arguable that Marti Cifuentes was dealt a difficult hand at his first so-called 'big job' in England this season at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes have had a lot of noise surrounding them this term, especially towards the start, when Leicester had to once again reconstruct a squad fractured by relegation and by the departure of club legend Jamie Vardy and lift expectations once more after a dismal season back in the Premier League.

That, plus an impending points deduction, which was given a handful of weeks after Cifuentes was dismissed, had the place on edge, and in the end, the weight of expectation was too much for the former QPR boss.

That being said, Cifuentes had done a decent enough job at Loftus Road, steering them away from relegation in the 2023/24 campaign and having them safely in mid-table the following year before he moved to Leicester.

While there's still expectations at Blackburn, they're arguably not as intense as what they were at Leicester, and the 43-year-old could be a viable option at Ewood Park next season.

Dave Challinor

It's been a turbulent season at Stockport County this year, and while initial pre-season expectations would have been for the Hatters to go one further than their third-placed finish in League One this season, they still have their play-off place in their hands.

Manager Dave Challinor has had to navigate injuries to key players and key signings and a run to the EFL Trophy final, too, so to still be en route to continuing his flawless record of finishing in the play-offs in full campaigns in management (this season would make it 15/15), it's definitely not been a year when his managerial stock has dipped.

Therefore, this summer, there'll no doubt be more interest coming his way from sides in the Championship if Stockport fail to go up, as the former defender who was famed for his long throw is easily someone who could make that step up.

Additionally, while this list has assumed Blackburn will remain in the Championship for the most part, there's still a possibility that Rovers could end up in League One next season.