Northern Ireland assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl is delighted he’s been given the chance to chase football folklore and four major tournaments with the Green and White Army.
Nicholl starred as a player at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups under legendary boss Billy Bingham and was also part of Michael O’Neill’s backroom staff at Euro 2016.
Bingham, who played at the 1958 World Cup and managed the national team at Spain 82 and Mexico 86, also stepped out at three major finals.
But a trip to next year’s Euros with new boss Ian Baraclough, who was quick to retain Nicholl’s services, would gift the popular 63-year-old a special place in history.
Northern Ireland face Bosnia in a play-off semi-final on October 8 with a potential home final lying in wait against the Republic of Ireland or Slovakia in November.
“I hadn’t actually thought about the significance of that,” said Nicholl, who was a valued lieutenant of O'Neill’s before the former manager stepped down in April.
“When Michael left, I spoke to him and I thought that was the end for me,” he admitted. “I thought ‘I’ve had my stint and loved it’. I didn’t think I’d be back.
“But three days later I thought ‘do you know what, I really enjoy the job’. Why walk away? I thought if the new manager asked me to stay, I’d say yes.
“I enjoy everything about Northern Ireland - the players, the build-up at Windsor Park. It didn’t make any sense me walking away.”
As well as Bingham and Nicholl, former Celtic captain Bertie Peacock also attended multiple finals with Northern Ireland as both player and coach.
Peacock, who passed away in 2004, helped the province to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup and was part of Bingham’s staff in 1982.
“Bertie was a great man,” said Nicholl. “Billy brought him in and he was always there if players wanted to talk about anything.
“He would chat about the World Cup final in Sweden and recall what he went through as a player. I honestly think that’s why Michael brought me in five years ago.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’m not there saying ‘there’s a meeting at 6.30pm and I’m going to tell you what I did in 1982 and 1986’. It’s not like that.
“My job is to be there for people. You’re maybe playing pool with Paddy McNair, or darts or sitting having a cup of tea and a chat in the hotel.
“I wouldn’t necessarily contribute a lot at meetings because everything is in place, but if asked I’d offer an opinion. I saw my main role as being there for the players.”
O’Neill recently credited Nicholl, a charming mix of levity and old school experience, for having the instincts to know when to step in and relieve the pressure.
“You’ve got to know when to put the ball away,” said Nicholl.
“If I saw Michael looking a bit stressed about various issues, I was there to say ‘come on, it’s time to put the ball away, let’s go for a walk’.
“I did the same with Jimmy Calderwood at Dunfermline. If I saw things getting on top of him, I’d say ‘come on Jimmy, let’s get ourselves out of the office’.
“We’d maybe jump on the train and go to Edinburgh, have a couple of pints and go home again. You’re still talking football, but you’re doing it in a different environment.
“I’ve always tried to do that as an assistant manager.”
