From Finance to Football: The Long Journey of N Ireland Manager Michael O’Neill

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: June 7, 2016

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Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill doesn’t fit the mould of his UEFA European Championship rivals this summer.

His nation has no professional league. At O'Neill's disposal are just five Premier League footballers. Some aren’t even regulars. The rest of his squad is made up of players operating beneath England’s top flight and at other British and Irish outposts.

O’Neill ended 30 years of hurt for the Northern Irish, securing qualification to a major tournament for the first time since 1986. His players, staff and the fans are riding on the crest of a wave to Euro 2016—fueled by excitement and wonder.

By the time Northern Ireland meet the might of world champions Germany in Paris on June 21, a ticket to the knockout stages may have already been stamped.

Underdogs they may be, but make no mistake, their opening two matches against Poland and Ukraine are winnable.

Comparing the resources at Germany coach Joachim Low’s disposal to the tools in O’Neill’s possession is, however, a futile experiment.



The players. The money. The infrastructure. The history. The Germans are superior in every measurable way.

How many times has Low taken a rail-replacement bus service home following a fruitless scouting mission at a German third-division match for example?

"It’s night and day when comparing us to the major nations," O’Neill told Bleacher Report. "I have traveled three or four hours to watch some players. More often than not I have just got one or two players playing—I’m not keeping my eye on five or six.

"Having two in a game is a high number for me, but when you turn up and they aren’t playing, it can be a soul-destroying experience. You get used it. Going to games is part of football. Managers perhaps don’t go to as many games as they used to thanks to the adven...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - International Football

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