Ian Baraclough would relish a high-stakes Euro 2020 shootout with former League of Ireland rival and recently appointed Republic of Ireland boss Stephen Kenny.
The new Northern Ireland manager and Kenny locked horns down south when Baraclough inspired Sligo Rovers to their first league title in 35 years in 2012.
The Englishman also got the better of the Dubliner in the 2014 Setanta Cup when Sligo beat Dundalk 1-0, before Kenny went on to win multiple trophies with the Lilywhites.
“I got a text from Stephen on Monday and it was good to hear from him,” said Baraclough. “He got the (Republic) job several months ago now and I texted him my congratulations.
"I said it would be good to lock horns again in November. It would be nice to meet up because that would mean we have beaten Bosnia.”
If Northern Ireland beat Bosnia in Zenica in a Euro playoff on October 8, they would host the Republic or Slovakia in a final shootout for the finals on November 12.
Reflecting on their past head-to-heads in the League of Ireland, Baraclough added: “We had some good tussles and you’d allow me to say I got the better of him on a couple of occasions, in a cup final and when he was at Shamrock Rovers.
“But he managed to turn the tables when I was leaving Sligo and took Dundalk onto great things.”
