The Northern Ireland manager, Michael O’Neill, has signed a new four-year contract, the Irish Football Association has announced.
O’Neill told the FA’s website: “I am extremely proud to be manager of Northern Ireland and I have thoroughly enjoyed the role over the past four years.
“I am therefore pleased to have signed this new long-term contract with the stability that it brings to me, the staff and the players. We are all now looking forward to Euro 2016 and the chance to create more history this summer.”
The Irish FA president, Jim Shaw, said: “Michael O’Neill has been absolutely magnificent for football in Northern Ireland. Most people could only dare to dream that Northern Ireland would play in a major championship again but Michael made those dreams a reality.”
O’Neill, 46, became Northern Ireland manager in February 2012 having previously been at Shamrock Rovers, Brechin City and Cowdenbeath. As a player he played 409 games at senior level and won 31 caps for Northern Ireland.
Under the new contract he will continue as manager until June 2020. This summer will mark the first time that Northern Ireland have competed at a European Championship finals and will be the country’s first major tournament in 30 years. They play Poland on 12 June, Ukraine on 16 June and Germany on 21 June.
Northern Ireland will continue their preparations for the finals in France with two friendlies this month. The Peterborough defender Michael Smith and the Queens Park Rangers forward Conor Washington have been called into the 24-man squad for the first time for training ahead of the games against Wales at Cardiff City Stadium on 24 March and at home against Slovenia four days later.
Northern Ireland squad for games against Wales (24 March) and Slovenia (28 March):
Carroll, McGovern, Mannus; Hughes, McAuley, Evans, Cathcart, Hodson, McLaughlin, D Lafferty, McCullough, McNair, Smith; Davis, McGinn, Norwood, Ferguson, Dallas; K Lafferty, Ward, Magennis, McKay, Boyce, Washington.
