LAST UPDATE | 7 Dec 2022
MICHAEL O’NEILL has no doubt he can get Northern Ireland to another major tournament after returning to the job a little over two-and-a-half years after leaving for Stoke.
O’Neill has signed a five-and-a-half-year contract on his return to Windsor Park, having previously enjoyed an eight-year reign which was highlighted by Northern Ireland’s run to the last 16 at Euro 2016, ending a 30-year wait to play at a major tournament.
The 53-year-old said the prospect of tarnishing his legacy if things go badly second time around did not worry him as he set his sights on reaching Euro 2024.
“There’s no concerns,” O’Neill said. “If the worst comes to pass and it doesn’t go well, I’ll have to live with that. I’m just approaching it with the same professionalism as I did last time.
“I’m not big on legacies. What we did in the first phase was we built a team that not only qualified and reached the last 16 but was capable to nearly qualify again.
“The objective is to do the same. If I’m not able to do it, I’m not able to do it, that’s the nature of the job. But I’ll try and do all I can to make sure that happens…
“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe it was possible. Of course there’s an apprehension about it, but that’s important.”
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% 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.
How are we feeling, #GAWA? 🤩 #MONBACK pic.twitter.com/brEBlhdCVK
— Northern Ireland (@NorthernIreland) December 7, 2022
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 – and also pushed Germany and the Netherlands in a brutal group in Euro 2020 qualifying.
That prompted Stoke to come calling in November 2019. O’Neill initially combined duties as he hoped to finish the job of reaching the Euros via the play-offs, but once the pandemic led to the postponement of those games, O’Neill made way for Ian Baraclough to step up from the U21s 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 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.
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
Both the Dublin footballers and hurlers are arrogant and seem to display little or no respect for other teams. The funny thing is, they have won f**k all and are disliked universally throughout the land for their attitude. Kerry will win, as always…obviously. Duh!
That’s just Dubs in general. They can’t help it. You’d nearly feel sorry for ‘em
Your basing this opinion on previous Dublin teams,who believed their media hype,this team doesnt have that arrogance and youl see it when they play Kerry on Sunday.Remember everyone said Tyrone would wipe the floor with Dublin and Donegals defence would be too much oh and not to forget the fact that Kildare had already won the all Ireland according to some parts of the media.So you cant write the dubs off just yet.
And as for saying all dub people are arrogant,its like me saying all non dubs are uneducated farmers…not true of course.
Yes, whereas the footballers and hurlers from all other counties are demure and chivalrous to a man. What a pile of prejudiced sh!te.
Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin
You really believe the Dublin hurlers disrepect possibly the greatest hurling team ever to grace a park? You’re more twisted in your Dub hatred than I first thought.
Dublin – “We don’t really give a damn about anyone else” Good man Dotsy )))
dublin play and act like every other team in the country yous all say we believe in the hype ,dont we all if a county’s doin well they get mega press and believe in the hype its not just dublin
(((((((((((((Well yes, they are actually…compare Kilkenny senior hurlers to Dublin hurlers. One team have won it all yet remain humble and respectful, the other team…well yeah, just Dublin being Dublin)))))))))))) burnt toast
just remember we beat kilkenny twice in the league almost beat them in the leinster final in which we played fair while kilkenny fouled us everytime vwe got the ball and if we had beaten tip we would have given kilkenny a hell of a game and may well have beaten them
also we have a young team takin out the top teams in ireland all through the year of course some of it will get to the players
dublin of course!
of course ? lol
ROFL
I’m a dub living in the country and the abuse I’m getting over my Dublin flag is unreal!! I am by no means arrogant, just a fan. Really hope the lads do it, true blue forever…..
Haters, twisted haters.
Salt of the earth !
Head says Kerry, heart says Dublin. Up the Dubs!
I commented after the Dublin v Kildare game that I didn’t think either team would win the All Ireland. Given my record to date, you would be well advised to bet on the Dubs to win!
i think the pie chart should have been the ‘standard’ shades of blue colours…
My Dub flag is flying high in Langerland……… Cork people hate everyone other than themselves…….. Football to win after the donegal fiasco but sam is going to the DUBS
burnt toast give example of arrogance please
The ad for McDonalds … ” ‘You’re not in Longford now, Flynn’,” and “Don’t be stupid. It wrecks the cheese.” … Dubs know everything, of course!!
;)
@Alan. Have you ever reheated a big mac in the microwave?
Course not! It wrecks the cheese! … Doh!
Hm where to start, oh yeah… the hurling team pre-booking a bar in Dublin to celebrate their anticipated win against Kilkenny…who of course trashed them. Is that arrogance or gross stupidity, cringe :(
It’s called contingency, toast, having a plan for all eventualities. But you’re obviously coiled so tightly with apopectic hatred for all things Dublin that you’re ready to take every little detail and blow it out of all proportion.
hahaha oh that’s what it is called is it, funny how no other GAA team in the history of the game have had such a premature contingency plan blow up in their face lol Good man yourself, anymore jokes ;)
Read this:
http://joe.ie/gaa/gaa-news/the-pre-emptive-dublin-hurlers-party-plans-pr-0013661-1
Think you’ll find it was the Bar and not the team who jumped the gun.
Your imminent apology is accepted, toast.
No, donl;t be silly…it was the team and that is well known. No good getting your PR boys to spin a story blaming the bar. Have they booked the Shelbourne for Sundays celebrations yet I wonder, will you be there ? ))
Galvin holds key
Dublin haven’t had a great football team since the 70′s. They have Alan Brogan and ….????. Would Alan Brogan make the Kerry team, maybe, maybe not. I don’t like to see Kerry win but i’d say they’ll walk this one, win by 10 points. The cheap Dublin players always hype up Dublin in the campaign and their fans buy in to it every time.
Tony, the Dubs have Alan Brogan and reigning Footballer of the Year Bernard Brogan too… Read a newspaper, Pal…
Up the Dubs ;)
Oh wow, and how many Brogan’s have Kerry got ? Stop reading your tabloid papers ‘pal’ ;)
wrong tony, the media always hype up Dublin, players say no different to players from other counties and the genuine fans know exactly how good or bad the team is so take what’s in the papers with a pinch of salt.. I’m hoping Dublin win but not expecting it..
Correct on all counts Peter.
Who gives a flying f**k
I couldn’t care less.
Got any spare tickets?
Galvin to win it from the bench….
Gooch to be unstoppable, get man of the match and player of the year. You heard it here first.
You would swear life depended on this sport. Its a few guys running around a pitch. Utter boring. I’d rather sit on the toilet than sit and watch this match or any match for that matter.
I’ll be looking for a pub that has no television, thank you very much.
I take it the glass in your picture is half empty?
Yet you scrolled through all these comments…
Who cares about bog-ball, horrible primitive sport loved by lads with thick heads, and lasses with think ankles… Man Utd v Chelsea, 4pm Sunday, yes please!
My heart says Dublin……head says Kerry. :(
I’m so glad Dublin won! Eat your words haters :)
Dublin have a huge advantage playing at home in their usual championship stadium in front of what will probably be over 70% Dublin supporters.
No way , croker is kerrys home stadium , up Kerry
Dublin defensive system will give Kerry half back line too much space, Kerry will score more. So Dublin must attack, reducing their defence meaning Kerry will score more. Galvin is there just in case. I think! Hope it’s a good game anyhoo