• ‘I’m still very much an international manager,’ says O’Neill• Northern
Ireland face Netherlands and
Germany this weekThis is apparently no time for tearful farewells. Michael O’Neill’s appointment as the Stoke manager has not meant an immediate departure from
Northern Ireland and the likelihood is he will remain on duty for the Euro 2020 play-offs in March. As is typical and legitimate for a manager who has enjoyed such success with his country, O’Neill wants to avoid continuing a dual role by qualifying automatically for the finals.
Victory over the Netherlands on Saturday would keep that dream alive heading into the final Group C encounter against Germany in Frankfurt on Tuesday. That the qualifier against the Dutch could be O’Neill’s last match in charge at Windsor Park is an afterthought for the man himself.