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The coronavirus pandemic has ended O’Neill’s hopes of leaving after the Euro 2020 playoff against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which is now likely to take place in October.
Last update: 04/22/20 2:17 pm
Michael O’Neill left his post as Northern Ireland manager
Michael O’Neill left his position as Northern Ireland manager after eight years to focus solely on his position in charge of Stoke.
O’Neill was named Stoke’s boss in early November, but remained in charge of Northern Ireland to watch the qualification process for Euro 2020, now postponed until 2021.
But now that Northern Ireland’s Euro 2020 tiebreaker against Bosnia and Herzegovina is likely to be in October due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, O’Neill mutually agreed to step aside.
“I would have loved the opportunity to coach Northern Ireland in the UEFA 2020 play-off match against Bosnia and Herzegovina and the possibility of qualifying for another great tournament, but the current situation means that this is no longer possible.” O’Neill said.
“It was important to leave the association and team in the best possible shape to not only have the best opportunity to qualify for Euro 2021, but also give the new manager time to build on the success we have had during my eight years of tenure.”
U21 chief Ian Baraclough and Motherwell manager Stephen Robinson are strong contenders to replace O’Neill.
Baraclough was supposed to help O’Neill for his playoff at Euro 2020 and has worked with several of the young players promoted to the senior configuration.
Robinson is popular with older players and was O’Neill’s assistant at Euro 2016.
‘Unique circumstances end an unforgettable chapter’
O’Neill was the fourth longest serving international manager in Europe after Joachim Low (Germany), Koldo (Andorra) and Luc Holtz (Luxembourg).
He was named in December 2011 and chaired his career at Euro 2016 in France, the first time in 30 years that they qualified for a major tournament.
O’Neill led Northern Ireland to his first European Championship in 2016
They passed through their group after a famous victory over Ukraine before leaving on the last stage of 16 after the loss to Wales in Paris.
Irish FA CEO Patrick Nelson said: “It is within a unique set of circumstances that we end our unforgettable chapter with Michael O’Neill.
“His time as manager, as well as football director in the Irish FA, will be remembered as one of the most important to our fans and the most successful for our players.”
“We were all eager for Michael to return to lead the team in March for the game against Bosnia and Herzegovina, but, for obvious reasons, it just didn’t happen.”
“Now that we have a clearer sense of UEFA in their next game show, the time is ripe to move in a new direction to give Michael’s successor the best possible chance to plan and compete in the Nations.
League, as well as preparing for those crucial play-off games that, hopefully, will bring us back to Euros next summer. “
‘No farewell to sleep’
Analysis by Sky Sports News journalist Paul Gilmour:
There will be no dream farewell to Michael O’Neill as Northern Ireland manager. He had hoped to bring them to Euro 2020 and the IFA had an agreement with Stoke for him to take over that tiebreaker originally scheduled for March.
1:40 “The day Northern Ireland fans feared,” Sky Sports News journalist Paul Gilmour has the latest when O’Neill leaves his role as manager of the national team
But the pandemic has essentially ended his hopes of doing so and ends his reign of just over eight years. The playoffs are now likely to be in October, causing logistical problems for Stoke, not to mention the start of the new Nations League.
This is the day Northern Ireland fans feared, despite being realistic enough to know what was to come.
O’Neill will become one of the best managers in his history. It transformed international football in Northern Ireland: they had been in a state of despair and decline after the ’82 and ’86 World Cups and although Lawrie Sánchez was close to reaching a major final, it was largely doom and gloom.
They were ranked 127th in the world seven months after O’Neill’s tenure in 2012, what a huge change to make history by qualifying for their first European Championship in 2016!
U21 boss Ian Baraclough is seen as someone who could bring some continuity to the role and is a strong contender to replace O’Neill, as is his former assistant Stephen Robinson, the manager of Motherwell.
But the key question is what impact O’Neill’s departure will have in Northern Ireland, reaching the Euro final next summer.
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